Toyota’s team manager is happy with the crushing pace.
Juha Kankkunen has steered Toyota’s ship with success. Vesa Pöppönen/AOP
Toyota has sovereignly dominated rallying through the World Series throughout the year and celebrated victory in every race of the season except for one. Only in Greece the victory eluded the team.
In the Central European World Rally Championship, which ended on Sunday, Toyota took a double victory when Kalle Rovanperä won and returned to the top of the World Series Elfyn Evans was another.
At the same time, Toyota once again secured the manufacturers’ championship two races before the end of the season. Unbelievably, the title was Toyota’s fifth in a row.
Served as Toyota team manager in Central Europe again Juha Kankkunen was really proud of his team’s achievement. Even so proud that it was hard to put the feelings into words.
– It’s hard to find the right words. What can I even say here… I have been a driver in seven manufacturers’ championships, but this was the first time I got to experience it as a team manager, Kankkunen said.
The drivers’ championship battle is still open, but Kankkunen’s season goal has already been achieved. It sensitized the experienced rally man.
– Yes, I had tears in my eyes when the boys came to congratulate me, Kankkunen admitted.
Toyota’s dominance has been very strong for years. Kankkunen believes that he will not see anything like it for a while.
– This doesn’t happen very often – maybe not once in a decade, maybe not in two, maybe never, Kankkunen predicted.
The Toyota team has performed excellently this season. Everyone has been pulling the same rope.
– This has been a really good year, excellent for all of us. Everything has worked – from the kitchen to the management – and everyone has given 100%. There has been a great team spirit in the team, and the result shows in it, Kankkunen praised profusely.