Toyota is on the back foot in the manufacturers’ championship battle against Hyundai. It was expected that Rovanperä would step in to support his team in Toyota’s home rally, but that didn’t happen.
Toyota team principal Jari-Matti Latvala revealed after Central European Rally that he had attempted to persuade Rovanperä to participate in Japan. However, the Finnish star stuck to his original plan to take a break from WRC.
Toyota faces a significant challenge on Japan’s tarmac stages to overturn Hyundai’s lead in the championship. Rovanperä could have been a major asset for the team, but the driver himself doesn’t fully agree with that notion.
“It’s easy to think like this but to be honest, I think the guys can do a good job in Japan. I was never so happy to drive on the stages in Japan; they are not naturally comfortable stages for me,” Rovanperä explained, as quoted by DirtFish.
This year, Rovanperä has competed part-time in the WRC to focus on other aspects of his life outside of rallying. He entered seven WRC rounds this season, covering about half the calendar.
Toyota’s other part-time driver, Sebastien Ogier, provided the team with more flexibility, participating in ten rallies this year. Rovanperä, however, stuck firmly to his half-season plan.
Now Toyota risks ending the season without a single title for the first time since 2017.
“If we look at this that way, I should have been in all the rallies after Rally Finland to help the championship – but then it’s not a half season for me.”
“At some point you need to draw the line if you want to do the half season or not and unfortunately, I can’t be there helping the team. But of course, I would want to be doing the best I can for the team,” Rovanperä said.
In Japan, Toyota’s points will be scored by Ogier, Elfyn Evans, and Takamoto Katsuta. If Rovanperä had joined the season finale, Katsuta wouldn’t have had to focus on the manufacturers’ championship, as WRC teams can nominate only three drivers to score team points.
Rovanperä has full confidence in Katsuta, who recorded the most stage wins at his home event in Japan last year.
“Last year, Taka was super good in Japan, and I hope he will have a good weekend again. He can definitely do a good result there,” Rovanperä added.
Next season, Rovanperä is set to return as a full-time driver for Toyota.
