Toyota set bring their ‘strongest’ WRC line-up to Rally Finland

Toyota’s World Rally Team are set to bring their ‘strongest’ line-up for the upcoming round in Finland as the team continues to chase Hyundai for the manufacturer title.

Feature image credit: Jaanus Ree / Red Bull Content Pool

It is yet another gravel event for the WRC, making it the fifth consecutive gravel event of the calendar, as the sport heads to Jyväskylä for the next round and iteration of Rally Finland.

The Japanese marquee heads into the north-eastern European country with good momentum in their stride, having secured wins in the last two events; Poland and Latvia respectively. 

Heading into Jyväskylä Toyota finds themselves second in the manufacturer standings, with 351 points, one point away from the lead which is occupied by their rivals Hyundai. 

In a bid to maximise results, the team have taken their ‘strongest and largest’ line-up of Rally1 crews with five cars entered into the competition. 

Rally winner last time out, and double world champion, Kalle Rovanpera will join the team’s eight-time world champion, Sebastien Ogier. Elfyn Evans, Takamoto Katsuta and – WRC2 contender – Sami Pajari complete the team’s lineup. 

“Every year, Rally Finland is quite a special occasion,” Rovanpera said. “Of course, it’s our home rally and one of the nicest events to do with lots of fans and family around. 

“It’s always exciting and the stages are really nice but quite demanding also. Having legendary roads like Ouninpohja on the schedule this year will be amazing.

“Our approach and our target will be like on every rally we’ve done this year: try to do the best job we can to fight for the win and bring good points for the team.”

Despite competing in Rally Finland previously, Jyväskylä’s Rovanpera and Jonne Halttunen have never secured victories in their home country. 

At the same time, this will be a return for Ogier who has not competed in Rally Finland since he secured his eighth world championship back in 2021. 

With an impressive campaign in the WRC2 category, Finland’s own Pajari will get his debut this weekend in the Rally1 Yaris.

Kalle Rovanpera and Sebastien Ogier’s special liveried Rally1 Toyota Yaris which will compete at Rally Finland. Credit: Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT

On his Rally1 debut, on home soil, Pajari said: 

“I’ve been really looking forward to Rally Finland for a few weeks now. To make my Rally1 debut with TGR-WRT on my home event is going to be a really exciting moment. 

“I’ve had some good test days with the team to help me get used to the car and prepare for the event, but it’s still going to be a big challenge: the stages in Finland can be really demanding with extremely high speeds and many tricky crests. 

“The most important thing is to gain the experience and finish the rally. Of course, I’d like to show some pace as well, but it’s not so easy to set any target in terms of final result.

“The best approach is not to think about that, and just to learn and progress step by step.”

Pajari’s Rally1 Yaris will be using a different colour scheme this weekend compared to the rest of the Toyota crews, with a predominately white livery. 

However, the rising Finnish driver is not the only crew to have a different livery this weekend as both Ogier and Rovanpera will sport new liveries this weekend. 

Their two Rally Finland cars will be designed with the ‘unique liveries’ which were inspired by the Special Edition GR Yaris models they helped launch earlier this year.

Read more WRC here:

• Ford confirm issue that cost Martins Sesks Latvia WRC podium
• Rovanpera leads 1-2 finish for Toyota in Rally Latvia
• Rovanpera maintains Rally Latvia lead after 200th stage win
• Rovanpera takes overnight lead at Rally Latvia
• Ott Tanak looking for redemption in Latvia after Rally Poland
• Sebastien Ogier to return in WRC Rally Latvia after accident

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Kamron Kent

Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.

I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

Kamron Kent

Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.