Before the season began, Latvala had planned to skip the Historic Rally Fafe in Portugal, as the event takes place on the same weekend as Rally Japan.
Latvala was originally set to serve as Toyota’s team principal in Japan, but he eventually had to request leave from his duties, wanting to continue his push for the drivers’ title until the very end of the historic championship. As a result, Juha Kankkunen will once again take charge of the Toyota team at Rally Japan.
Latvala will have a new co-driver for the decisive event, as 31-year-old Topi Luhtinen joins him in the cockpit. Luhtinen has worked for several years as a co-driver for Japanese drivers in Toyota’s WRC Challenge Programme.
Latvala’s regular co-driver Janni Hussi will miss the Fafe showdown as she will be on duty for Toyota at Rally Japan, writing pacenotes for Takamoto Katsuta’s gravel crew.
Hussi was absent for the same reason from the Czech round of the European Championship, having served as a gravel crew co-driver with Juho Hänninen at Rally Islas Canarias that same weekend. On that occasion, Tuukka Shemeikka co-drove for Latvala.
Latvala currently sits third in the European Championship standings ahead of the final round. He has claimed four victories this season, but three other outings have ended in retirement for the Finnish driver and his Toyota Celica.
Poland’s Maciej Lubiak leads the standings ahead of Britain’s Will Graham and Latvala.
“Graham already has points from six rallies, the same as Lubiak. Since only the six best results count, I only have points from four. To win the title, I must take victory in Portugal. There are extra points available there, so I still have a chance. A win would compensate for one of the retirements,” Latvala explained to RallyJournal.com after winning the previous round in Spain a couple of weeks ago.
Historic Rally Fafe will be held on 7–8 November on asphalt roads in northern Portugal.
