Tommi Mäkinen (Toyota): “We know a little better where we are going”

After winning the title last November, are you confident going into your third consecutive year in WRC ?

Since we started this program, we have gone through several phases of questioning. There were many at the start of the 2017 season and many more last year. In 2019, it's easier. We know a little better where we are going.

The adage is that it's hard to get to the top, but it's even harder to stay there. Do you think you have motivation problems?

I have no doubt about that! For us, this is absolutely no problem. The team knows what it means to work hard every day and that’s not going to change. Development is also constant, so it’s impossible not to stay alert.

You are precisely addressing the question of developments. What should we expect from the Yaris in 2019?

We have passed most of our wildcards and the next one will not come before Mexico. This may be an approval on the transmission side. In Monte-Carlo and Sweden, our car will therefore be very similar to that of Australia.

The Yaris is still “young”. We have many possibilities or options in terms of set-up to make it faster whatever the conditions. This is the key to development. It should never stop to improve balance and behavior.

Discover our 2019 WRC Guide, still available in digital version and on newsstands