The team principal was competing himself over the weekend in the Czech Republic at a round of the European Historic Rally Championship. However, he kept a close eye on how Toyota was performing in the Canaries.
And Toyota performed brilliantly. Kalle Rovanperä secured a dominant victory, and the team completed a stunning 1-2-3-4 finish.
“An absolutely fantastic performance by the boys in the Canaries. I didn’t expect such a strong showing,” Latvala praised.
“Previously, we have taken a 1-2-3-4 finish at Safari Rally. But to do it on asphalt – that’s much rarer. This is a really special achievement,” he added.
Toyota could have achieved an even greater result at the championship’s new event, but Sami Pajari had to retire on Saturday from fourth place after crashing out.
“There was a real chance for a 1-2-3-4-5 finish. Sami was driving at a great pace, but unfortunately, he made a small driving error. It ended up costing him dearly. But that’s part of the sport and part of the learning process,” Latvala said, offering words of support.
Latvala had nothing but praise for Rovanperä’s dominant performance, where the Finn claimed 15 stage wins across the weekend.
“It was a really strong performance from Kalle. I believe his circuit racing experience was visible and helped him. He was simply on a different level compared to the others,” Latvala said.
Hyundai’s poor pace, on the other hand, left Latvala puzzled. The team’s champion drivers, Thierry Neuville and Ott Tänak, struggled with the car’s setup and were unable to challenge Toyota’s drivers throughout the event. Ultimately, Adrien Fourmaux was Hyundai’s best-placed finisher in fifth, beating both Tänak and Neuville.
“Hyundai’s pace was a surprise. They had been at the same test rally in Spain where Elfyn (Evans) also drove. But they still couldn’t get their car working in these conditions,” Latvala remarked.
Elfyn Evans, who finished third in the Canaries, continues to lead the WRC standings ahead of Rovanperä. In the manufacturers’ championship, Toyota now holds a 51-point lead over Hyundai.
The next round of the WRC season will be held in Portugal in mid-May.
