The prize-giving gala of the International Automobile Federation FIA was celebrated in Central Asia. On behalf of Toyota, Jari-Matti Latvala went up to collect the manufacturers’ World Championship trophy. Although Latvala competed in only a few World Rally Championship events this season, with Juha Kankkunen standing in for the majority of rallies, Latvala had the honour of collecting the championship trophy.
In addition to the manufacturers’ title, Toyota also celebrated a one-two-three finish in the drivers’ World Championship standings. Sébastien Ogier celebrated a record-breaking ninth world title ahead of Elfyn Evans and Kalle Rovanperä.
In addition to Ogier, Latvala and silver medallist Elfyn Evans, Evans’s co-driver Scott Martin and Ogier’s pace-note reader Vincent Landais were also present. Two-time world champion Jonne Halttunen had also travelled to Tashkent, but Kalle Rovanperä had not.
The reason was a natural one, as Rovanperä is suffering from benign positional vertigo, which he developed during Super Formula tests in Japan earlier this week. Rovanperä has been forbidden from driving and, most likely, also from flying.
Toyota has now won the manufacturers’ world championship five times in a row. Ogier, for his part, has announced that he will contest only ten rallies next season, but he also expanded his programme this year when a chance of the title opened up. With nine championships, Ogier shares the all-time record with his compatriot Sébastien Loeb, but a tenth would put Ogier alone at the top.
Evans has yet to win a world championship, but he already has five World Championship silver medals to his name. Kalle Rovanperä, meanwhile, has shifted his focus to pursuing his Formula 1 dream.
