Toyota will take on the high-speed gravel roads of Rally Finland with the clear aim of repeating its victory from last year. The rally is a home event for the team, which has a base close to the service park in Jyvaskyla, as well as for its Finnish drivers Jari-Matti Latvala and Esapekka Lappi, while Ott Tanak can also count on large support from neighbouring Estonia.
Tommi Makinen (Toyota Team Principal)
“This is an exciting event for everybody in the team, especially with the fantastic support that we receive from the fans in Finland, and I am sure that many will come from Estonia to cheer for Ott too. It was very special for us to win the rally last year: our aim is to do the same this time. We know that the Yaris WRC is strong on these types of roads, and all three of our drivers feel confident on these fast stages. I hope that they can all be fighting for the victory. We are very well-prepared, but I think we will face strong competition from our rivals.”
Jari-Matti Latvala
“I am really looking forward to Rally Finland. It is a good opportunity to start the second half of the season in a positive way. I have always felt really good support on my home event, and this is even more the case now that we are driving a car that has been built here. I could really feel last year that everybody was behind the team and willing us on. One of the big challenges this year will be the changes to the route. I have driven some of the new roads before, but it was a long time ago and there are large sections that even I don’t know. Therefore, I think it will actually create a more level playing field.”
Let’s turn the page and put everything behind! We want to go to @RallyFinland ?% focused to give our very best. The car is competitive and we want a good result in our home event ?? so we will go for it. ??#WRC #TGR_WRC #SISU pic.twitter.com/ehg2vuZ6n4
— Jari-Matti Latvala (@JariMattiWRC) July 25, 2018
Ott Tanak
“Rally Finland is always one of my favourite events. It is quite a specific rally: really high-speed but also quite technical with the jumps. You really need to have some respect for the roads there. This year there will be a lot of new roads that we have not seen before, which will add to the challenge. I think we have had some really good preparation. As well as our pre-event testing, I took part in Rally Estonia last weekend and won it, which was quite nice in front of so many fans. I am sure that a few of them will go to Rally Finland as well, and I hope we can give them a good result there too.”
Enjoy the silence as long as you can, because a little bit more waiting and the engines will start again. ??
Recce is almost done now and the roads are looking quite nice. Can’t wait for the start! ?#RallyFinland #WRC #GoOtt #TGR_WRC #TanakFanArmy@RallyFinland @OfficialWRC pic.twitter.com/mzfJ50RKBv— Ott Tänak (@OttTanak) July 25, 2018
Esapekka Lappi
“Rally Finland is always a special event and even more so after our victory last year. I am really looking forward to it. There is more pressure this year. From my side, I am expecting a good result and I think everyone else is too, so we really need to perform. I think it will be tougher to win it this time, though. The competition will be tougher, both from inside our team and from the other teams as well. The new stages will also create a big challenge. We know that our car will be competitive so the focus will be on making good pace-notes and finding a nice flow with the driving.”
?? Hesitate and you’re behind, in real life, champions must make snap decisions too. Find out the #NoHesitation of @EsapekkaLappi (@TGR_WRC)
?? Hésite et t’es derrière, dans la vie aussi, les champions doivent choisir vite. Découvrez le #NoHesitation d’Esapekka Lappi#WRC pic.twitter.com/04vXX6940c
— Michelin Motorsport (@Michelin_Sport) July 23, 2018
