will follow the Finnish World Rally Championship closely on Ralliradio and live on the website. Schedules and broadcast times can be found in this article.
– It’s a great feeling, the car goes incredibly well. From the first pull, I was surprised how easily I got into driving.
Toyota team manager Jari-Matti Latvala it’s hard to hold back your enthusiasm, and there’s no reason for it on the eve of the Jyväskylä World Rally Championship. Latvala’s return to the World Rally Championship is fast approaching, as the last time the champion driver was at the starting line in February 2020.
In three and a half years, the cars have changed, and in Jyväskylä, Latvala’s dream will come true when he drives a single race in a new Rally1 car.
– I must say that the hybrid power felt quite violent, especially at the start, when it has 500 horsepower in use, Latvala admits.
After the test drives, Latvala’s verdict is that the car turns cleverly and reacts quickly. The hybrid engine brings its own spice to braking, among other things.
– At those starts and in the first corners, you have to keep in mind that you have to brake a little earlier when there is so much speed.
Rovanperä controls in use
Latvala has prepared for the competition by trying different drivers’ adjustments to his car. Most recently, Latvala has tried driving Kalle Rovanperän with regulations, but according to him, no other help is forthcoming from the reigning world champion.
– I have actually gone in the same direction with the adjustments that Kalle liked, Latvala revealed.
All in all, Latvala has enjoyed his return. Now he also understands his team’s drivers better.
– All things related to, for example, rear end sliding, the behavior of the hybrid and the car’s jumping feeling have opened up much more clearly to me when I have experienced these things myself.
In the absence of routine, extra tension has also crept into Latvala’s blouse. Under should be given several test days in order to find a suitable risk level for driving.
– Once in the test I increased the ride and turned in a little earlier. He immediately hit a stone and a piece came off the rim. After all, the tire didn’t go empty, Latvala updated.
Here’s a little piece of myhinpää
Along with Latvala, the Myhinpää special stage will also return to the Jyväskylä rally. In ‘s pre-broadcast yesterday, the competition manager Kai Tarkiainen said that Latvala’s eyes widened when he was told that Myhinpää is in the program this year.
The last Myhinpää special test was run in 2015, when Latvala drove the entire Jyväskylä rally to victory. Latvala has watched old videos of Myhinpää and their speed has surprised me.
– It didn’t feel like it at the time, but now it seems that I procrastinated quite a lot in those places. Now you may not be able to do it in quite the same way.
In any case, Myhinpää is one of those special tests that Latvala is especially looking forward to.
– There are great sections when you go down a lot and get up. There will be a lot of height differences, so I’m looking forward to those roller coaster-like moments.
The contract situation of the drivers always comes to the fore as the season approaches. At the moment, however, team manager Latvala is more concerned about his own driving than Kalle Rovanperä’s future contract.
– I believe that we are in a very good position in that regard. Nothing has been signed yet, but I have pretty good credit for it, Latvala commented on the Finnish star’s contract situation.
Half the map reading, half the feeling
Latvala map reader Juho Hänninen plays an important role when considering the whole of the World Cup rally.
– Half of my job is reading sheet music and half is maintaining a relaxed atmosphere, said Hänninen, who usually drives as a test driver for Toyota.
Racing in a factory manufacturer’s car without a result goal is a rare treat.
– If you don’t know how to enjoy it now, it will surely hurt you for a long time, Hänninen pointed out.
According to Hänninen, the audience will notice immediately if Latvala loses his sense of relaxation from driving.
– When you can keep up the pace of the second and third practice pulls, it has the ingredients to really be fun, Hänninen estimates.
It is possible that the race in Jyväskylä will be the duo’s only Rally1 car. However, this will not be the last rally or World Cup competition for Latvala.
– The top Finnish drivers are driving the 50th anniversary races in Jyväskylä, so I have to save something there too, Latvala said.
According to Hänninen, one thing is certain: the car is not going to be adjusted during the rally.
– Under no circumstances will we go for it. We will not go behind the adjustments and I will take care of that, it will not affect our final result in any way, Hänninen vowed.
will follow the Finnish World Rally Championship closely on Ralliradio and live on the website. Schedules and broadcast times can be found in this article.