Kankkunen was appointed as Toyota’s deputy team principal for this season. He is in charge of the team at events where Jari-Matti Latvala, the regular team boss, steps aside due to his own driving commitments.
Latvala competed last weekend in the opening round of the FIA European Historic Rally Championship in Spain, which led to his decision to skip the trip to Kenya. Through RallyJournal.com, Latvala sent his message to Kankkunen, who is now stepping in as team principal.
“It’s fantastic to see how Juha will handle things in Kenya. But Juha is an old Safari expert, so he knows all the tricks of the trade when it comes to this event,” Latvala says.
Indeed, Kankkunen has a wealth of experience in the Safari Rally, having started the event 12 times as a competitor. He has won the gruelling African classic on three occasions, in 1985, 1991, and 1993.
Kankkunen has already become well known within the Toyota team in recent years, having worked as an ambassador for the Japanese manufacturer.
“We’ve worked together with Juha. I’ve told him that his job is to ensure the drivers are in a good mood, that they get into the car with a smile on their face and feeling confident. He will also make sure everything runs smoothly within the team and that there’s a great atmosphere. And, of course, he will handle the media interviews as well,” Latvala outlines.
Latvala has complete faith in the four-time world champion.
“One of Juha’s biggest strengths is his patience. He’s happy to stay in the service park all day if needed, talking to people and handling any situation that comes up. In that sense, I have one hundred per cent confidence that Juha will do a fantastic job,” Latvala states.
The Safari Rally kicks off on Thursday and concludes on Sunday. Toyota will field four drivers in the event: Elfyn Evans, Kalle Rovanperä, Takamoto Katsuta, and Sami Pajari.
