Jari-Matti Latvala, Toyota team boss, sees a silver lining in the unusual conclusion of the 2025 WRC season. With three Toyota drivers locked in a tight battle for the title, Latvala points out two positives: a new world champion will be crowned, and the season ends earlier. Latvala spoke to Rally Journal about his views.
Elfyn Evans leads the standings, 17 points ahead of Sami Pajari and 21 ahead of Oliver Solberg. The trio will fight at the final round in Sardinia. Interestingly, regardless of the outcome, WRC will have a new champion.
Pajari and Solberg have shown impressive form in recent rallies. Pajari won Rally Paraguay and Chile, while Solberg took victory in Chile. Meanwhile, Evans last won at Rally Japan in May. As the championship leader, the Welshman had to run first on the road in the summer gravel rallies, giving his pursuers a better starting position.
"There are perhaps two positives here. Above all, we will have a new champion, which is a great thing. The other is that the season now ends a little earlier," Latvala said.
The season was due to conclude in Saudi Arabia in mid-November. However, the rally was removed from the WRC calendar because of the unstable situation in the Middle East. This decision changed the championship dynamics and provided a long break before the 2026 season.
Latvala believes the unusually long break could help new teams as the WRC enters a new technical era next year. "With the new season starting next year, it gives everyone more time to prepare for it. There may even be an opportunity to attract new teams because the schedule becomes a little easier," he added.
Thus, Sardinia will be a thrilling stage for the showdown. Evans, Pajari, and Solberg will battle not only for victory but also to etch their names as the new WRC champion. Evans, with his experience, will not miss this opportunity, while Pajari and Solberg carry winning momentum. Toyota as a team has three drivers at the top, underlining their dominance this season.
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