Toyota must have at the very least three full-time drivers contesting the 2025 World Rally Championship, in keeping with workforce principal Jari-Matti Latvala.
His feedback adopted a troublesome weekend on the Acropolis Rally, the place Latvala admitted that the workforce’s drivers’ and producers’ title have been “just about gone” following a 1-2-3 for rivals Hyundai.
Reflecting on the best way the title race has unfolded to Autosport final Sunday in Greece, the Toyota boss stated that the workforce’s choice to subject two full-time drivers in Elfyn Evans and Takamoto Katsuta and two part-time drivers in Kalle Rovanpera and Sebastien Ogier has not been sufficient to problem for the titles.
Toyota reshuffled its line-up for this season after two-time world champion Rovanpera’s choice to go part-time this yr to “recharge his batteries” forward of a full-time return subsequent yr.
When requested for his ideas on the workforce’s 2025 line-up, earlier than Wednesday’s shock choice to switch Katsuta at Rally Chile with rising star Sami Pajari, Latvala stated: “What I’ve realized this yr is that for 2025 we have to have three drivers who will do the total championship.
“That is clear now that having part-time drivers and when you have solely two drivers doing the total [championship], that’s not sufficient to win the title.
“We are able to have a fourth driver who can do a part of the championship, however three drivers must be doing a full season.”
When requested if he felt there was a whole lot of work forward to finalise the workforce’s 2025 line-up, he added: “There’s issues we have to now take into account and we’d like to consider.
Takamoto Katsuta, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT
Picture by: Toyota Racing
“I am unable to communicate concerning the line-up, not but.”
Rovanpera is contracted and anticipated to return to a full-time drive with the workforce subsequent yr, which will probably be a lift for the Japanese model that has gained the final three drivers’ and constructors’ championships.
“Kalle has already talked about himself that that he’s doing a full season and that is what we now have been focusing on,” stated Latvala.
“It’s clear that if Kalle drives, then it is a full season, we simply must test a few issues. However that’s the manner we would like it to be.”
Nevertheless, subsequent season poses an attention-grabbing proposition for Toyota concerning its driver line-up, with loads of choices at its disposal.
Eight-time world champion Ogier’s future is but to be decided, though this yr he has as soon as once more proved to be precious asset for the workforce by successful three rallies and scoring three second-place finishes from seven begins.
The Frenchman has dedicated to seeing out the remainder of the season in a bid to maintain the warmth on Hyundai factors chief Thierry Neuville, however is assumed unlikely to decide to return to full-time motion.
Two-time WRC title runner-up Evans, competing in his fifth season with Toyota, has endured a difficult season making an attempt to guide the workforce’s drivers’ title assault. The Welshman has commonly challenged for podiums and copped his fair proportion of misfortune with arguably probably the most damaging incident a driveshaft failure in Finland when sitting second to then-leader Rovanpera.
Kalle Rovanperä, Jonne Halttunen, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
Picture by: Toyota Racing
Regardless of the information that Katsuta will probably be benched for Chile, the workforce made it clear in its announcement that it’s going to proceed to present “its full help” to the Japanese and hopes this quick break in an intense and aggressive season can present a chance to reset and are available again stronger”.
Katsuta piloted a full-time fourth entry from 2021 to 2022, earlier than making the step as much as the third automotive final yr.
The rise of WRC2 title contender Pajari gives an alternative choice following his spectacular run to fourth on Rally1 debut in Finland, which has now led to 2 extra outings in Chile and Central Europe. Latvala informed Autosport after Finland that the younger Finn was among the many workforce’s choices for 2025.
“After all, Toyota is considering investing for the longer term, like we did with Sami in Finland,” Latvala added when requested concerning the driver marketplace for subsequent yr.
“These issues are what Toyota desires to spend money on for the longer term. However after all, general, we have to have drivers on the similar time that we are able to win the championship.”
