Kankkunen shares team boss responsibilities with Jari-Matti Latvala, as he did last year, but the main responsibility once again rests on the shoulders of Kankkunen. Latvala will again compete this season in the European Historic Rally Championship and is also set to race in the United States rally series.
Latvala gives Kankkunen only a few breaks in the busy WRC season, but the 66-year-old rally legend is not bothered by that.
“Jari-Matti and I just talked about it, that he will do two rallies and I will do 12 rallies. So I will have the same number of events as last year,” Kankkunen tells RallyJournal.com.
In Toyota’s WRC team, management responsibility is shared between several people. The sporting side is led by Kaj Lindström, the technical side by Tom Fowler, and personnel matters are handled by Yuichiro Haruna. Kankkunen’s role has mainly been to bring the team’s message to the public, but of course he also gives advice, for example to the drivers, if asked.
Based on last year, Toyota was very pleased with Kankkunen’s contribution. Kankkunen himself is still ready to continue the work, even though travelling throughout the year does take its toll.
“I’m not really upset about this. This solution gives Jari-Matti the opportunity to compete. The team has liked it, and they still haven’t fired me, even though I’ve been half expecting it,” Kankkunen jokes.
“I’ll try to get through this year doing this job.”
The World Rally Championship continues next week with Rally Sweden, where Latvala will carry out his duties as team principal. Kankkunen will take on the role from the Kenya round in March onwards.
