Special test aboard the Toyota Yaris WRC

La nuit a été courte, agitée. Comment pouvait-il en être autrement ? Ce n’est pas tous les jours que j’ai rendez-vous avec une championne du monde ! Les souvenirs de mes dernières expériences, en tant que « sac de sable », me reviennent. De grands moments. Celui-ci promet également, car il ne s’agit rien de moins que de m’installer dans le baquet de droite de la Toyota Yaris WRC, the one that won the day before in Finland with Ott Tänak. To make the adventure even more memorable, Toyota decided that this co-drive would take place in Finland, where the car, which was crowned last year, was developed and where it is built.

The chosen location is located north of Jyväskylä, the small town which hosted the rally. As is often the case in the land of 1000 lakes, the site is in the middle of the woods and near a body of water. The access road passes through Puppola, where the Tommi Mäkinen Racing premises are located. For the visit, it will be another time! Time is indeed running out. When we arrived, the welcome was first class. During the few hours spent in this rural setting, everything will be done by the members of Toyota Gazoo Racing to make the experience memorable.

The Yaris is there, well behaved under the tent, surrounded by mechanics, whose night was short with the double podium to celebrate. Surprise, the three drivers are also present and will soon be joined by a smiling Tommi Mäkinen. Available, Kris Meeke does not hide his disappointment at the mention of his abandonment the day before. Ott Tänak is glued to his phone, but appears more relaxed than usual, while Jari-Matti Latvala, my “driver” today, is already bustling around the car. From our car!

Before joining her, you must go through the “dressing” sequence. Suit, hood, helmet, Hans... I almost look like a real co-pilot, but I can't say if the strange feeling that grips me is the fact of feeling ridiculous, out of place in these beautiful clothes that the crews wear. wear like a second skin, or if it's the impatience to get into the seat that comes along. Instructions are given in Finnish. It is time ! It's part of the ritual and it's always a very exciting moment.

For someone who doesn't participate in motorsport, getting into a racing car doesn't come naturally. I think I even forgot to breathe! The bar blocks the way, the seat seems more made for a big baby and there is no handle to hold on to... but how good is it when the harness is tight and you finds himself plated, anchored in the WRC! I am aware that from this moment on, the film will accelerate. It is at this moment that the dreams of the night return. What should I remember to watch now? There's actually not much to see. Unsurprisingly, the interior is as bare as possible. No trim, no comfort, black, which avoids reflections, the white of the shell, the yellow mark on the steering wheel... The seat being located very low for the best possible weight distribution, even the vision towards the before is limited.

Right there, a few centimeters away, Jari-Matti is smiling. Always approachable, I point out to him that we have been meeting for over 15 years and that I had to wait until he had the record for the number of WRC starts (204) to finally ride with him. The Finn laughs. His voice in the headset is very close, as if he is speaking directly into my ear. Despite the three days of furious battle which have just ended, he does not seem jaded. “It's always a pleasure to drive a car like this... and today there is much less pressure than yesterday! », he laughs, indicating with his hand that he has understood that the base was " clear ".

Sweet brutality

The first is engaged. As is often the case, this “sklong” is surprising, but nothing to worry about. We leave our location to quickly reach the path planned for this baptism. Immediately, Jari-Matti floors the accelerator and the Yaris flies over a bump. Welcome to Finland! Some tight curves are swallowed with the nose in the rope and the rear sweeping. The pleasure is immense. There is no point in wanting to appear as a specialist and try to compare with the old WRCs. It's too short, too brutal, absolutely not a natural sensation to embark on this kind of analysis. For those who love rallying, it is the ultimate experience, absolute happiness. The fear is not even present. She didn't have time to follow...

My pilot's right hand clings to the handbrake. U-turn. With a scream, the Toyota takes the stage in the other direction. This time, I tell myself that I need to take my eyes off the windshield to try to concentrate on what my neighbor is doing. Easy to say ! What surprises is the gentleness of the gestures. His fingers give the impression of touching the paddle to change gears. Between two turns, he lets go of the steering wheel to open the roof hatch! No need to panic, everything is under control. It looks very simple. Jari is probably only running at a small percentage of the car's potential. For an occasional passenger, however, it is enough to measure the talent necessary to operate such machines at the limit. We will have to remember to be more lenient in future comments… What artists! The one of the day apologizes when he makes another U-turn using the handbrake. “I didn’t know the base would be this short!” », he said to me while waiting for the dust to settle.

I then confide to him that the experience is enjoyable, which makes him laugh, “Yes, yes, it’s true that it’s pretty awesome to drive! » Encouraged by my enthusiasm, we set off in the other direction. The stage is too short, very narrow and too tortuous to judge the effect of the aero, but would I have been able to? There is way too much information to take in. A quick look at the “dance” of the boots on the pedals, a new look at the hands, the left of which travels much further than the right which manages the gear changes.

The section of road is not brittle, the cocoon in which we find ourselves does not appear hostile. However, my head is bobbing quite a bit and as always I wonder how the co-pilots manage to read their notes. Having memorized the basics, Jari-Matti doesn't need it... and it's much better for him, as it is for me. He then slows down as he approaches the structure under which he stops our car. There you go, it's already finished. The next “customer” waits his turn. I shake the Finn's hand. By my blissful expression, he knows that he has fulfilled his mission and made me a happy man. Not yet completely recovered, I am nevertheless becoming a simple pedestrian again. Still completely upset, you still have to think about getting to the airport. Although also done behind the wheel of a Toyota, the way back will seem deadly boring to me...