Toyota Gazoo Racing’s 2023 World Rally Championship driver lineup will be announced before the end of November.
From as early as August this year, team principal Jari-Matti Latvala had suggested that he would like to keep the same roster of drivers the team fielded in 2022 for the following season.
Toyota currently has new world champion Kalle Rovanperä and Elfyn Evans on its books in full-time seats with Sébastien Ogier and Esapekka Lappi sharing the third car, while Takamoto Katsuta has done a full season in a fourth GR Yaris Rally1 for the Toyota Next Generation team.
However an explosive, and late, WRC silly season – triggered by Oliver Solberg’s Hyundai contract not being renewed and then 2019 world champion Ott Tänak opting to walk away from his two-year Hyundai deal one year early – has prevented Toyota from announcing its drivers as it has waited to see what develops.
Hyundai is set to reveal its lineup this week, while Toyota’s should come the week after.
Asked by DirtFish when Toyota’s 2023 lineup would be announced, Latvala confirmed at the end of last weekend’s Rally Japan: “In two weeks’ time.”
Rovanperä and Evans are as good as confirmed Toyota drivers for next year, as is Ogier who is set for another partial campaign.
DirtFish understands Lappi will depart Toyota though after signing a deal to drive a Hyundai i20 N Rally1 for a full season, leaving one half season spare in Toyota’s works lineup.
DirtFish understands that gap will be filled by Katsuta, with a fourth car being used on the events Ogier does do.
“I think he would be one option for the driver lineup next year,” said Latvala of Katsuta.
“I think he has started to show that he is capable of doing the results.
“But we have not confirmed the driver lineups yet, so it will be done now during November.”
