The great season of the Toyota rally team did not end as hoped in the home race in Japan.
Takamoto Katsuta received a champagne shower from the Hyundai drivers after his home race. PDO
About the drivers of the factory stable Sebastien Ogier lost the game on Friday with a flat tire, on Saturday it was Kalle Rovanperän time to change tires and Sunday morning Elfyn Evans dropped out of the fight for victory also due to a flat tire.
– For the team, the race was a bit difficult. We didn’t get the result we were looking for, i.e. profit. The most important thing is that we have been where we need to be all the time. We have led the rally and driven low times, Jari-Matti Latvala your sum to Iltalehti.
Toyota received a small consolation when Takamoto Katsuta scored his third career prize-place finish by Thierry Neuville and Ott Tänak too after third.
– We had a goal for Taka that he would ride on the podium twice this year and now in the last race that goal was achieved. It’s a big deal for Toyota and Taka that he was able to be on the podium. It was almost like a victory, Latvala said.
– Now we have achieved all the goals that have been set for this season: the drivers’ championship, the brands’ championship and Taka’s two prize places. Not every rally can be won. Yes, we should be satisfied with what we have achieved.
“Another super year in a row”
In the final result, Ogier was fourth behind Katsuta and Evans was fifth. Evans, who had a difficult season, would have liked to catch at least one victory this season, but it turned out differently. However, the flat tire did not necessarily decide the victory, as the Hyundai duo’s tire choice was better for the last two sections, where it was raining heavily.
– Elfyn must be very disappointed himself. He has had a tough season and he certainly would have liked to end it with a better result. It would have been a good feeling if I had been able to win the last race of the season. The fight was tough and Elfyn had to push, Latvala said.
– They made a small mistake, but the tire choice would not have been the most optimal either. It would certainly have been very difficult to win with those tires. We had the wrong tires, that’s for sure.
Toyota led by Latvala has taken the jackpot in the World Series in two consecutive seasons. For next year, the battle will get tougher, as the Hyundai team has overcome the pitfalls of its new Rally1 hybrid car.
– We had another super year in a row. It’s not easy to win new championships next season. We saw at the end of the year that Hyundai was really strong. It will certainly be more difficult to achieve similar results next year, Latvala says.
– We just have to continue working and doing things together. The most important thing is that we stay united and share information. That’s the key to success.
After the end of the season, interest will be focused on next season’s driver positions. Toyota needed for those switching to Hyundai Esapekka for Lapland replacement. Another option is for Toyota to move up Katsuta alongside Ogier to share a third car.
– I believe that we will publish the driver line-up during November. The situation is good in that respect, Latvala stated.