As a driver, Jari-Matti Latvala never had too much success with the World Rally Championship title. But things couldn’t be more different since he traded the race suit for a polo shirt.
Last weekend’s Rally Spain confirmed what we’d all long suspected: Toyota is double world champions for a second year in a row, meaning it’s won all four titles since Latvala has been in charge.
Kalle Rovanperä has been absolutely brilliant this year, but he couldn’t have won his first world title without having a fantastic car. The GR Yaris Rally1 has often been the fastest, but crucially the most reliable, car in the field, and that’s a massive credit to the entire Toyota Gazoo Racing team.
“I am really proud of the team,” said Latvala.
“I think it’s the combination of people working hard and they have shared the passion and desire for success. At the end of the day, the most important is that everybody works together.
“If you have great individuals it doesn’t help. You have to get everybody working together. That’s also not only the team: the drivers are working together.
“That’s why we are able to build a car that’s so fast and reliable and that is why we have people who are prepared to make the car as fast and reliable as possible.”
Latvala’s words are as accurate as they are touching to those they apply to. You need only contrast the situation at Toyota with Hyundai to understand how important collective team spirit is.
“It’s a really strong team, really, really good people working,” added Rovanperä.
“I think we really showed well how talented we are. And especially the guys in the workshop also, everybody making the car so strong and fast.”
Perhaps the biggest accomplishment within Toyota’s achievement though is that it has managed to remain on top through a change in regulations. Peer through the pages of motorsport, let alone rallying, history and you’ll discover that’s no easy feat.
“For me, personally, it is a great reward for all the guys and girls at Toyota Gazoo Racing, we have a great family atmosphere within the team,” said Elfyn Evans.
“But with that, the guys and girls work very, very hard and have delivered, obviously, all these great results with our team-mates. So they built a fantastic car with, I would say, a lot of challenges in terms of timescale to get the regulations ready for Rally1 etc.
“And to be manufacturers’ champions again means a lot to everybody.”
“The team did a fantastic job, I’m very happy,” added Takamoto Katsuta.
“Of course my manufacturer points are different than the main team but still, everybody works very hard for my car as well and everything; a very good car and setup, data, everything is very good and the same as the other three cars.
“So basically the team did a more than fantastic job to get this championship. Congratulations to all of the team and of course all of the drivers; they did an amazing job all season.
“Rally Japan, we will push. It’s one more rally to try for victory.”
And with seven out of 12 wins so far this season, Toyota must start its home round of the championship as favorite for yet more success in 2022.
