It’s always great to see someone doing what they love. Such moments were seen in the World Rally Championship in Jyväskylä, even though the long-awaited Finnish victory did not come, writes Urheilu’s Roope Visuri.
Roope VisuriYle Sports reporter
JYVÄSKYLÄ.
Last year, at the end of the World Rally Championship in Jyväskylä, an interesting moment was seen in front of the media. Toyota team manager Jari-Matti Latvala gave interviews and explained Kalle Rovanperän bending in the victory struggle of Hyundai To Ott Tänak.
When Tänak came in front of the media, Latvala stopped giving interviews. The “principal” sincerely congratulated the Estonian star on the victory.
Tänak replied by acknowledging that he now rose to the same level as Latvala in the Jyväskylä World Rally Championship victories.
– I am now as good as you, Tänak threw.
– I will come back next year, Latvala joked in response.
– Keep your word! Tänak laughed.
– Okay, I will come back one day, I don’t know if it will be next year, Latvala laughed and continued.
– I have 209 World Cup rallies. I have to get 210 MM rallies, Latvala threw the two in a warm encounter.
A year later, Latvala’s warm spike came true. And in what way!
Latvala, who last competed in the World Series in February 2020 in Sweden, was a boost to the competition after the atmosphere died down for the Finnish winning favorites Kalle Rovanperän and Esapekka Lapin after interruptions.
It has been wonderful to watch the joy of the always genuine and honest Latvala. Saturday’s finish interviews inevitably brought a smile to my face.
Latvala was enthusiastic, smiled and constantly had conversations with his map reader Juho Hännenen with.
The same continued in the service park in front of the media. Latvala and Hänninen shared comments about each other rather brotherly.
In his active days, Latvala received a lot of criticism, but now the person from Tura received a wonderful reception from all sides. Small children asking for mittens in the maintenance park and during transitions between special tests. Cheers from all sides. Even from the balconies of the apartments surrounding the Paviljongi service park.
In his career, Latvala, also known for numerous outings, stuck to what he talked about. He has enjoyed the opportunity to race in a Rally1 hybrid car and has not set out to try too hard. If that has happened, Hänninen has, by all accounts, been able to rein in his easily enthusiastic pair of drivers.
The smile didn’t fade, even though on Saturday night in the final special exam Vekkula became Vekkula according to Latvala’s own words. The Finnish World Cup rally became a Safari rally for a while, but the two pushed it to the finish line as well. It didn’t hurt, even though the gravel roads of Keksi-Suomen were not raced this year in sunny conditions as usual.
After the suspensions of Rovanperä, Lapi and Tänak, there was rightfully concern about the interest of the race weekend. From a Finnish point of view, this is the most interesting trio of drivers in the World Series.
However, Latvala and Hänninen maintained the entertainment value. All credit to the one who fought for the podium Teemu Suninenbut Latvala, who has driven the most World Rally Championship races of all time, has his own halo.
Naturally, Suninen can’t reach that yet, even though his story of hardships towards the light again is great.
Of course, someone could legitimately ask what’s so great when someone comes to the World Series after a break of more than three years and is immediately fifth. However, not everyone would be able to do that, especially on the demanding gravel roads of Central Finland.
The finesse also lies in much bigger things than in the details of one sport.
It’s always great to see someone get to do what they love more than anything. Whatever area of life it is. For Jari-Matti Latvala, it’s a rally.
A character like Latvala is very important for the World Rally Championship, which is dancing on a tightrope with its future. The Rally World Series needs personalities. When the biggest driving personalities were on the sidelines, Latvala rose to the spotlight.
Before the race, people also wondered how the team manager could leave his job in the most important race of the season. In the end games, the solution just showed how Toyota works. In the team, Latvala is not involved in operational tasks, but works under the leadership of four different bosses.
And the result didn’t seem to suffer either, when there are two Toyota drivers out of three possible on the podium of the home race.
As was rightly pointed out in Ylen Ralliradio’s chat on Saturday, despite all the minor twists and turns, we have a very interesting final result.
The team manager finished in the team’s home race ahead of the team’s number one star and the reigning world champion. The horns are blowing. Jari-Matti shouts are heard in Himos. The driver himself gives the thumbs up. Clearly getting emotional and maybe a little teary in the eyes. That’s a memory from the 2023 World Rally Championship in Jyväskylä.