For Toyota technical director Tom Fowler, there was far too much blue on Sunday’s Safari Rally Kenya podium.
After four years of Yarises dominating at least two of the three steps in Naivasha, seeing Hyundai drivers Thierry Neuville and Ott Tänak looking up at Elfyn Evans was tough for Fowler. But he took it in his stride.
“The picture’s not quite as nice as in previous years,” he smiled as DirtFish raised the podium point.
Expecting the Englishman to vent on one of the toughest World Rally Championship rounds in years, he took a different direction.
Toyota's Evans was outnumbered on the podium last week, but did take the top step
“I’ve got to say congratulations to Hyundai,” he said. “This was a great round of the championship, without a doubt one of the most entertaining and action-packed rallies we’ve seen in years and those guys really came back at us strong.
“The work they’ve done with their car from what we’ve seen in previous years on this event gave them serious pace, particularly on dry and rough stages, which put pressure on us for sure. Of course, they’re our biggest rival, but every now and then you have to admit when you have been put on the spot. This is one of those times.
“I know what we had to do to make our car work, and how hard we had to work to take one step of the podium – to take two was a great achievement, but the victory is the victory.”
