Toyota best placed at Rally Sweden?

Alors que les performances des Toyota Yaris WRC perplexed many specialists before the debut in 2017, Tommi Mäkinen's team quickly revealed its potential by winning the second meeting of the season with Jari-Matti Latvala.

Toyota Gazoo Racing will once again have a good chance of winning in the Rally of Sweden this year since the victorious Finn will start behind the leader of the Championship Sébastien Ogier (M-Sport) lors de la première étape.

“Sweden is one of my favorite rallies. This is where I won my first WRC victory around ten years ago. However, it doesn’t seem so long ago to me!, recognizes the Finn who occupies third place in the Championship. Our car has certainly improved since last year. We tried hard to progress in the slow and technical sections. That being said, the competition has become even stronger this season. It will be a real challenge played in real winter conditions and that will of course help my level of play. I think I can fight for victory again. »

The main competitors could well come from the same clan. Ott Tänak, second in the last edition in a Ford Fiesta WRC, will also be one to watch. The Estonian will start just ahead of his Finnish teammate after taking second place at the Monte-Carlo Rally last January.

“I'm still learning with the Yaris WRC, but I'm starting to understand why Jari-Matti won in Sweden last year after driving on snow during testing, comments the new recruit of the Japanese manufacturer. We will see how it goes at the start of the event, but I obviously hope to fight for the podium and even for the victory. If the snow will be significant in the special stages, which seems to be the case, my position will not be ideal, but the weather can change. »

As for Esapekka Lappi, the Finn will be keen to turn the page on Monte-Carlo where he lost three places in the Power Stage while he was on the verge of finishing just off the podium. His mistake will at least give him a better position on the road.

“It took me a few days to get over my disappointment, but in the end there were more positives than negatives to come out of it, assures the second Finn in the team. We have been very consistent until now and my goal is to do the same in Sweden. We completed around 400km of testing in two days, which was enough to give me a good feeling. Our car should suit Sweden well, but it is a very different rally from Monte-Carlo. At Monte, you have to be brave enough to slow down enough. Sweden is asking for another form of commitment. I didn't compete in this event last year and I lack a little experience, but I'm comfortable on the snow. »

Toyota Gazoo Racing will in any case intend to gain the upper hand over M-Sport Ford WRT with whom it shares the lead in the Manufacturers' Championship with a 15-point lead over Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT.

“Sweden is obviously one of the rallies where we are competitive, confirms Team Principal Tommi Mäkinen. Each driver completed two days of testing in Finland where the roads were snow-covered. But there is always the question of how others have evolved. The drivers are in any case satisfied: Jari-Matti won last year, Ott was closest to him and Esapekka has good feelings on the snow, even if he lacks a little experience compared to the others . We are both confident and realistic: there are always things to improve. »