Toyota team leader Jari-Matti Latvala is eagerly awaiting the final two races of the World Championship, where the Toyota pair can freely fight for the championship title. The question is whether this is actually the case, as the fierce infighting does not put the World Cup title in jeopardy, but second place could still slip away.
“When we won the Manufacturers’ Championship, it took some weight off our shoulders. It means that before next week’s Central European Rally, or perhaps the Japan Rally, Rovanpera and Evans can race in complete freedom.” Latvala said.
The situation is familiar to him, he has witnessed something similar as a competitor and team leader. In 2014, the Finn was still racing for Volkswagen and chasing Sébastien Ogier for the championship. Hope remained alive for him in the French Rally – similar to Evans’ current chance – as Latvala won, while Ogier only finished 13th due to gearbox problems. On the other hand, the Frenchman won the Spanish race, winning the title with one race before the end of the championship.
Two years ago, a home tournament similar to the current one was held in Toyota, and the characters didn’t change much. Then Latvala entered the scene as team president, Ogier was fighting for his eighth championship, and Evans was looking for his first championship win after finishing second in 2020. Interestingly, until then Thierry Neuville had been in third place, and even then he managed The Belgian was not champion in the last two competitions.
In Spain, Evans finished second and Ogier fourth, leaving the decision to the final race of the year. But at the end of the season in Monza Latvala preferred Ogier. He kept current champion Evans 17 points behind him. For the team, it was also important that Ogier and Ingrassia won their eighth World Championship title in the final race of the year. Evans finished second in both the rally and the championship.
Now comes the third chapter.
The players have changed as instead of Ogier, Rovanpera has a chance to take the title, although the difference is also greater, and now the Finn has 31 points. Neuville is in third place again and there is no longer a chance for the championship. However, the Belgian is also 31 points behind Evans, and even Tänak’s disadvantage is 40 points, so they can mathematically take second place. There are still 60 points in the hat.
“The most important thing when there are competitors on the team is that they have the same opportunity,” Latvala said. “So we have to support them in the same way. Of course, it’s also unnerving in some ways, because if someone makes a mistake, they immediately suffer, and then, you know, they become one of your competitors. But that’s the way it is.”
“Now we move to the penultimate race, the thing is that Cale can handle it a little easier, but Elvin has to go and try to win the race to stay in the title race. At the same time, it might be a little difficult for Cale to concentrate. So it’s not “It’s easy for him too. There’s a lot at stake for both of them. But I hope they can handle it and we try to provide them with an environment where they can focus and do the best job possible.”Latvala continued.
This all sounds great, but the team leader didn’t talk about a single thing. If Evans makes a mistake in the big effort and Neuville finishes second, it will be a big loss for Toyota. It’s not hard to see how great these images are – and how important they are from a marketing point of view – as two Toyota duos celebrate their first two World Championship places. If that happens, from the board’s point of view, it means the team boss has not done his job well, and Latvala is well aware of that. That’s why he doesn’t even allow that to happen.
So the battle will be free until second place is in danger. From a marketing perspective, what is the best scenario for Toyota? It is not difficult to guess: Evans’ success in the Central European Rally, then the decision in Japan, where Rovanpera will defend his title and Evans will finish second in the championship.
Team championship, first and second place individually, joy, happiness, defending the title and more support from the endlessly happy board. Sound sarcastic? Yes. sane? Adequate.
