Jari-Matti Latvala admits the prospect of a Rally2 victory is becoming tempting after showing strong pace at WRC Finland 2026, but the Toyota Team Principal insists he must remain patient while attempting to catch Robert Virves.
After 14 special stages, Latvala sits second among all Rally2 cars, 13.7 seconds behind Virves. However, Latvala is not registered to score WRC2 championship points, meaning his position does not appear in the official category classification.
“It doesn’t sound like much, but in Jyväskylä it’s quite a big gap. This afternoon we’ll be driving the stages for the second time and everyone knows the roads. There’s also more grip now,” Latvala said.
With the roads now familiar and grip levels improving, opportunities to create large time differences are reduced because his rivals can also increase their pace. Latvala therefore believes an excessive attack could introduce more risk than the potential time gain justifies.
“Of course, you have to remember that a lot can still happen and you first have to make it to the finish. I also need to remember to stay patient and not get too carried away,” he added.
In the official WRC2 classification, Teemu Suninen holds second after rediscovering his rhythm on Saturday. Suninen completed a clean morning loop and recorded several fastest times, but a deficit of more than half a minute to Virves has made a victory challenge increasingly difficult.
Latvala still has an opportunity to finish as the fastest Rally2 car overall if he can pressure Virves without taking excessive risks. With six stages remaining after SS14, his approach to the final phase of WRC Finland 2026 will depend on balancing the pursuit of victory with the need to reach the finish.
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