The Toyota stars had the opportunity to test their Rally1 equipment under competitive conditions when they entered the Arctic Lapland Rally. Hyundai’s Rally1 car was also expected in the competition, but the team decided to skip the testing opportunity.
Instead, Hyundai drivers tested their car about 600 kilometers south in Jämsä during the Arctic Rally.
“I was surprised by that,” Toyota’s team principal Jari-Matti Latvala admitted to RallyJournal.com.
“I assumed that Hyundai would come to compete since we had also signed up. But they decided to run tests in their own area,” Latvala added.
Rovanperä was in excellent form in the Arctic Rally, although he had to withdraw from the rally during the final special stage. This allowed Evans to become the official winner of the overall competition.
Latvala emphasized that the weekend was really important for Toyota ahead of next week’s Rally Sweden.
“We received a lot of good feedback, and Kalle was really satisfied. Elfyn had some difficulties, having to drive first on the road all the time. The role of the opener was perhaps tough, but in Sweden, he will be the second car, so this was good practice for him,” Latvala said.
“Having driven 200 kilometers in competition and then tests the following week, I believe the boys are ready for the rally. We should be in form,” the team boss trusted.
Rally Sweden is scheduled for February 15-18 in the surroundings of Umeå.
