5 days after dominating Rally Estonia, the reigning world champion Rovanpera is about to sort out the Hyacenter Rally, in Tampere, Finland, alongside his Toyota teem-mate Evans, who completed fourth final weekend.
It is the primary time Toyota has fielded its two lead GR Yaris entries in a nationwide rally exterior of the WRC schedule this yr. The Hyacenter Rally options eight stage comprising 80 kilometres, utilising roads that featured in earlier editions of Rally Finland.
Final yr the Toyota squad, based mostly at Rally Finland headquarters, Jyvaskyla, misplaced out to Hyundai on house soil as Ott Tanak defeated Rovanpera.
Toyota crew principal Jari-Matti Latvala says this weekend’s additional preparation is to make sure the crew is best positioned to assert a house victory subsequent week.
“We weren’t that good in Finland. I believe what occurred final yr is we have been sturdy in Estonia after which we weren’t aggressive in Finland,” Latvala advised Autosport.
“The philosophy in Toyota’s world is to attempt to enhance so we are going to attempt to enhance within the house rally, so it’s higher to do that occasion with two vehicles. We wish to be there in Finland and attempt to win the house occasion.
“There was a pair occasions that we checked out after final season and Finland and Japan have been occasions that didn’t go that properly, together with Sardinia. In Sardinia this yr we have been not less than a bit higher there performance-wise however these have been the the occasions the place we need to enhance. That’s the reason we’re taking it severely.”
After such a dominant efficiency final weekend on comparable easy, quick gravel roads that may characteristic on Rally Finland, Rovanpera nonetheless believes it’s helpful to be again behind the wheel this week.
Elfyn Evans, Scott Martin, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
Picture by: Toyota Racing
“Yeah after all I believe will probably be good to do that rally,” Rovanpera advised Autosport.
“Let’s hope we are able to make a fast automotive and that may at all times makes pushing a bit simpler. If you must push with the automotive on a regular basis it isn’t optimum.”
Evans added: “Finland is a kind of rallies the place you possibly can actually achieve one thing from being snug and having feeling beforehand and I believe this time slot to have a rally this weekend has labored by way of the calendar and testing, so it made sense to ship us.
“It’s a good alternative to do some mileage on these roads.”
The Toyota duo may even be joined by M-Sport-Ford. The British squad will subject a Puma for Pierre-Louis Loubet, as an alternative of Tanak, who was initially anticipated to compete.
“Ott doesn’t wish to attempt something radically completely different [on the car] and he has a check day earlier than the rally anyway, so Pierre will do the rally and hopefully that will probably be good for him,” crew principal Richard Millener advised Autosport.