Latvala has announced his participation in the FIA European Historic Rally Championship in his Toyota Celica (ST185). This means he will have to skip several WRC events.
To cover for Latvala’s absence, Juha Kankkunen, a four-time World Rally Champion, has been appointed as Toyota’s deputy team principal. Kankkunen will step in as team boss for the WRC events Latvala misses.
The EHRC calendar was unveiled this week, revealing multiple clashes with WRC rounds.
The EHRC consists of 10 events, with drivers’ final scores being based on their best six results. To maximize their points, competitors must participate in at least eight rallies throughout the season.
This tight schedule will keep Latvala busy next year. He is expected to serve as Toyota’s team principal for the first two WRC rounds—Monte Carlo and Sweden—but overlapping events will start appearing regularly after that.
The EHRC kicks off in mid-March in Spain, just a week before the iconic Safari Rally in Kenya, which Latvala is likely to skip. Latvala has previously expressed a desire to reduce travel, especially to long-haul events.
At the end of April, the Historic Vltava Rally in the Czech Republic coincides with the WRC’s new round in the Canary Islands. Similarly, May’s Rallye Antibes Historic in France overlaps with the WRC Rally Portugal, potentially reducing Latvala’s time as team principal.
The clashes don’t stop there. The Belgian Ypres Historic Rally (27–28 June) coincides with the Acropolis Rally in Greece, while the Austrian Historic Rally Weiz (17–19 July) overlaps with the WRC Rally Estonia.
Toward the end of the EHRC season, two more overlaps emerge: the Historic Rally of Asturias in Spain (17–18 October) takes place during the Central European Rally, and the Historic Rally Fafe in Portugal (7–8 November) aligns with Rally Japan.
With six of the EHRC’s 10 events overlapping WRC rounds, Latvala’s season as team principal could be significantly reduced if he commits fully to the EHRC.
It’s also possible that Latvala might skip the WRC rallies in Paraguay and Chile, which are held within a couple of weeks in August and September. The Acropolis Historic Rally in Greece is scheduled between these two events.
Given this schedule, Juha Kankkunen is expected to become a familiar face at WRC events next season.
