Akio Toyoda is satisfied with Toyota’s success this season. The goal for next season has already been set.
Akio Toyoda is the chairman of the board of Toyota and a descendant of the car giant’s founder. EPA / AOP
Toyota’s big man Akio Toyoda rejoiced at yet another rally world championship. The descendant of the founder of the Japanese car brand was especially happy Juha Kankkunen on behalf of.
Kankkunes became the first person in history to bring the world championship to the same car brand as both driver and team manager. Tommi Mäkinen has also celebrated titles in two different roles, but during the Puuppolain’s driving years, the championship car was a Mitsubishi instead of a Toyota.
Kankkunen, on the other hand, won his fourth World Championship title in 1993 with a Toyota Celica.
For Toyota, the manufacturers’ championship was the fifth in a row. Toyoda thanked all team members for this feat. In the press release, Toyoda wanted to highlight Kankkunen in particular.
– I would like to express my heartfelt congratulations to Juha Kankkunen. This is our ninth [valmistajien] world championship, also taking into account the title that Juha drove for us in the Celica.
However, Toyoda threw the team a challenge for next year.
– However, we have not yet reached Lancia’s record 10 brand championships, six of which came consecutively. I saw a publication announcing Lancia’s return to the World Rally Championship. I am really looking forward to meeting them.
Toyoda shows that he knows rally history very well.
– I believe that Juha, who has driven Lancia himself in the past, is even more excited about their return.
On the drivers’ side, the championship seems to go to Toyota as well. Toyoda doesn’t take sides by Elfyn Evans, Kalle Rovanperän and Sebastien Ogier’s between. He sent everyone the same message.
– To Elfyn, who is hunting for the world championship he has long coveted, to Seb, who wants to win the title, even though he only drives for less than a season, and to Kalle, who wants to end his rally career as a champion: I want them all to enjoy driving and everyone in the team to do everything they can to ensure that they can drive without problems and enjoy themselves.
Toyota secured their fifth consecutive World Manufacturers’ Championship at the weekend. PDO