Since joining Hyundai’s lineup in late 2021, Suninen has primarily competed in the WRC2 category with Hyundai’s Rally2 car. Last season, however, he had the chance to showcase his skills in the top tier, driving the Hyundai i20 N Rally1 car in four WRC events.
Suninen had hoped to secure a Rally1 seat with Hyundai’s factory team this year but settled for a Rally2 role. Unfortunately, his season with Hyundai fell flat, as he failed to score any points in the WRC2 championship.
In October, Suninen was spotted behind the wheel of a different manufacturer’s Rally2 car. The Finnish driver tested the Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 in France, immediately sparking speculation about the significance of this test. Suninen himself declined to comment on the matter.
Now, Toyota’s team principal, Jari-Matti Latvala, has shed light on the situation.
“Suninen has a lot of experience, so we wanted his feedback on the car to support its development. This year, we’ve allowed various customer drivers to test our car, giving us insight from drivers who have experience with other cars,” Latvala told RallyJournal.com.
“It was purely a test. Let’s put it this way: we both learned something from it.”
Could this also suggest that Suninen might drive your “unofficial” WRC2 car next year in place of Sami Pajari?
“No, it doesn’t,” Latvala responded directly.
No official WRC2 team
Earlier this year, Toyota launched its Rally2 car, which Sami Pajari drove to win the WRC2 championship.
In the WRC2 events, Pajari was fielded by the Finnish team Printsport, meaning the car was not part of Toyota’s official rally team, despite strong connections between Pajari, Printsport, and Toyota. During the season, Pajari also had the chance to compete in three WRC events in the Rally1 class with Toyota’s factory team. Next year, he will compete in all WRC rounds as an official factory driver for Toyota.
According to Latvala, Toyota has no plans to establish its own WRC2 team for next year either.
“All our energy is focused on Rally1. But a similar solution could work—this year, Sami drove with Printsport, so it would naturally be good to see young and promising drivers in those teams,” Latvala said.
“We always need to think about the future and opportunities for young drivers, so in that sense, such a solution could be a great option.”
