In rally circles, there has been speculation about whether Toyota team principal Jari-Matti Latvala will be on the list and once again behind the wheel of a Rally1 car. Latvala has also expressed his desire to compete again on home soil, but after Rally Poland, he delivered some unfortunate news.
“I won’t be driving a Rally1 car, unfortunately,” Latvala confirmed to RallyJournal.com
What about the Toyota Rally2 car?
“The coming week will show how things turn out. These are decisive times.”
Toyota’s Rally2-class car was introduced to the World Rally Championship at the beginning of this season. Latvala competed last autumn with the development-stage Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 in a round of the Japanese rally series, which he also won.
According to Latvala, this summer is extremely busy for Toyota, so the participation of the team boss in the Central Finland gravel spectacle will depend on everything else falling into place.
Toyota already has four Rally1 cars coming to Rally Finland, with Kalle Rovanperä, Elfyn Evans, and Takamoto Katsuta, as well as Sami Pajari making his debut in a top-tier vehicle.
Before Rally Finland, there are still tests and the Latvian round of the WRC, so the logistical challenge is significant. The weekend before Rally Finland, a test event, the HYAcenter Rally, will be held in Tampere Finland. Latvala has good news for the fans of this event.
“It’s possible that one of our cars will be on the starting line. Last year, there were two cars, but now there won’t be. There’s a possibility for one car,” Latvala said.
The registration period for the HYAcenter Rally, which takes place on the last weekend of July, ends on 16th July. Among the drivers from the WRC already listed are familiar names from the WRC2 class, Gus Greensmith and Jan Solans.
Rally Finland is scheduled for the following weekend, 1st-4th August.
