The legendary Monte Carlo Rally opens the WRC season from 23–26 January. Four-time world champion Kankkunen is stepping in as Toyota’s deputy team principal this season, filling in for Jari-Matti Latvala when the regular team boss competes in FIA the European Historic Rally Championship.
At Monte Carlo, Kankkunen will be preparing for his responsibilities. Latvala has confirmed he will serve as team principal at both Monte Carlo and Sweden, but for the season’s third round in Kenya, Kankkunen will take the reins as team boss.
It’s likely Kankkunen will also lead the team during rallies in the Canary Islands in April and Portugal in May, as these coincide with European Historic Rally Championship events.
The last time Kankkunen was in action in the French Alps was in 2000, when he finished third driving a Subaru. In 2002, his final WRC season with Hyundai, Monte Carlo was not part of his programme. That year marked the end of his illustrious rallying career.
Now, the Finnish legend is making a return to these iconic rallying landscapes.
“I will be with Jari-Matti in Monte Carlo, So we can spend some more time together and I can see more (about the role). We have been working together already in the last two years, so I know him well – he’s a very good person and somebody very easy to talk to,” Kankkunen told the official WRC website.
Kankkunen has been a familiar face at WRC events in recent years, having served as Toyota’s ambassador. However, this new role brings fresh responsibilities.
“I’m excited to start, it’s a real pleasure to be back with Toyota. Of course, I have been doing some demonstration driving at some events and working with Akio (Toyoda, chairman Toyota Gazoo Racing), but it’s nice to have the opportunity to work with the team I won the world championship with.”
Despite the significant changes in the rallying world since Kankkunen’s prime, he’s confident in handling his new position. The Finnish legend has already considered how he will approach his role as deputy team principal.
“If I don’t know something, there are lots of people who have the information. And for things like team orders, I think already everybody is trying to do the best they can for themselves and for the team,” Kankkunen said.
“Today, the race is all the time flat-out it’s less like the days before when you could drive with a bit more strategy on the longer distance.”
