The upcoming World Rally Championship season is shaping up with immense intrigue as Toyota team principal Jari-Matti Latvala has offered strong hints regarding the manufacturer's operational strategy for next year. Speculation has reached a fever pitch in the service park regarding team structures and driver line-ups, particularly with the possibility of running as many as six Rally1 machines across the championship calendar.
Adding further complexity to the driver market are the pivotal decisions facing former world champions Kalle Rovanpera and Ott Tanak regarding their immediate futures. Tanak has already tested Toyota’s car for next season, while the Estonian 2019 champion also competed in the United States rally series in a Japanese manufacturer's machinery earlier this autumn, fueling intense paddock rumors.
At the same time, Rovanpera has also been spotted behind the wheel of Toyota’s next-generation car. The Finnish star’s single-seater career appears to have stalled because of health problems, leaving him with essentially two distinct pathways. He could undoubtedly return to the factory squad in the WRC if he so chooses, or alternatively continue his racing journey in circuit tin-tops.
Looking at the current roster, competitors such as Oliver Solberg, Sami Pajari, and Takamoto Katsuta are heavily anticipated to remain within the Toyota ecosystem. However, multiple champion Sebastien Ogier has already announced that he will not compete in Rally Monte Carlo at least, leaving his exact schedule for the rest of the campaign open. Meanwhile, newly crowned world champion Elfyn Evans is also expected to stay put, provided his appetite for competition remains strong.
Addressing questions concerning the logistical challenge of running up to six Rally1 cars and the potential involvement of his own Printsport operation, Latvala clarified the situation to RallyJournal.com. "Let’s put it this way: Printsport has focused more on customer drivers and supporting young drivers. That will remain its focus. We have no intention of building a second team there," Latvala stated. Furthermore, he noted that Toyota could potentially field two separate three-driver squads, adding, "That is still something of a question mark. We have been considering whether it would be possible to create two separate teams if there are that many cars. It could make sense. That is what we have been weighing up."
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