Jari-Matti Latvala is coming to America. Sorry, I know it’s an obvious opener. But he genuinely couldn’t be more excited.
After testing in Washington, Ohio and Kentucky last year, he’s finally heading Stateside with numbers on the door of a Toyota GR Corolla Rally RC2. He’s more than ready for the Olympus Rally, presented by DirtFish.
“It’s going to be really interesting to see for my first time competing in America,” Latvala told DirtFish. “I did five tests last year, but to do the rally – this is new. I want to see how is everything? How is the fans the roads, everything?”
Looking more specifically at the Shelton-based Olympus Rally, has Latvala been able to reach out to anybody for advice on what to expect? Just a bit. Try Markku Alén and Juha Kankkunen – heroes of the iconic and fabled 1986 event, to which next month’s rally will pay homage
“Markku told me: “Jari-Matti, if it’s dry over there, remember there’s very heavy dust – one-minute interval is not enough. You need two, three minutes when it gets dry and dusty…” That was actually a good point from him. Juha Kankkunen told me about nice stages, they have nice memories from the event.
Latvala will make US debut in second GR Corolla, with regular driver Quintero also in action
“When I was testing in Washington last year, I enjoyed the landscape. And what I saw from the road, it was actually reminding me a lot of the forests in Wales. It’s very interesting that, in that part of the world, you can feel the similar feeling as driving in the Dyfi forest.”
He wouldn’t be the first to make that comparison about the roads. Or the weather.
But what about the car? After five separate test sessions aboard the Corolla, Latvala has a better insight than most about what to expect from Toyota’s all-new American machine. And the obvious place to start it with a comparison to the GR Yaris Rally2, the car with which the Corolla shares so many common components.
“The biggest difference is that the Corolla is longer wheelbase,” said Latvala. “And it’s heavier than the GR Yaris. Of course, even though the engine is the same, the transmission is the same… but the base setup, we couldn’t use exactly the same. Because it’s a bit heavier, we took different roll bars and springs. The rideheight and tilt of the rear is also different.
“But when we finished the development, I was really happy with the car. With the longer wheelbase, it’s a very calm car to drive on the fast road – so you feel even more comfortable than with the GR Yaris [Rally2]. But then when you go to the very technical part, GR [Yaris Rally2] is more nimble, which is of course logical when it’s a shorter wheelbase.”
That’s the terrain and the car covered; what about the competition and the team-mate?
“I’m interested to see where is the competition,” he said, adding that he would be interested to compete with current American title holder Brandon Semenuk.
“He came last year to Finland to see how it is in the Finnish Championship,” said Latvala of the four-time ARA champion, “so I know he’s a very quick guy. And of course, it would be nice to try against him if he has a chance to come to the event – it’s always good to have a high level. It’s good for everybody when there is more competitors.
“And for Seth [Quintero, Toyota team-mate], of course I support and try to help him. We will do a test before the event, so I’ll try to make sure the setup is good for him also to start the rally and also give him some tips.
“OK, I don’t know the roads, but he also doesn’t have the experience of the roads, but at least, you know, some areas to look at – because I understood that there might be some areas where you have to be careful with the tires because there’s risk with the sharp rocks.
“Seth’s car control is great and he’s very motivated and he wants to learn to drive the rally cars and he wants to do a good job. What I see in the first race in America [at 100 Acre Wood], he did well because you have to consider that was only his second rally ever.
“Many times I have flown across the Atlantic to compete in the Americas, but now we come to the US – this is the territory for me and a new environment. I’m excited to see it.”
