Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Workforce intention to proceed their document of success on the snow and ice of Rally Sweden when spherical two of the 2023 FIA World Rally Championship takes place this week (9-12 February).
Sweden was the scene of the group’s first victory, in 2017, when Jari-Matti Latvala – now Workforce Principal – claimed a shock win in TGR’s second WRC outing. Since then, the group have received 3 times within the final three Swedish occasions, together with the maiden victory for the Yaris Rally1 Hybrid automobile in 2022, pushed by Kalle Rovanperä.
That end result kick-started Rovanperä’s run to his first drivers’ championship, and the Finn will arrive in Sweden successfully main this 12 months’s title race. Final month he accomplished a one-two end for TGR-WRT on the season-opening Rallye Monte-Carlo behind Sébastien Ogier – who heads the standings however has not included Sweden in his part-season programme.
Takamoto Katsuta due to this fact steps as much as be a part of the principle three-car line-up for the primary time, alongside Rovanperä and Elfyn Evans – who received in Sweden in 2020. Having typically rallied on snow and ice in Finland as a part of his coaching by way of the TGR WRC Problem Program, Japanese driver Katsuta additionally has a powerful document in Sweden, taking a breakthrough WRC2 win there in 2018 and ending fourth total final 12 months.
TGR-WRT will nonetheless have 4 automobiles in motion within the prime class in Sweden, as Italy’s Lorenzo Bertelli turns into the primary buyer driver to compete within the GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid.
Rally Sweden is the one true winter spherical on the calendar. Final 12 months it moved to a brand new house in Umeå: the biggest metropolis in northern Sweden. In addition to offering a greater assure of the intense circumstances the rally is understood for, the transfer additionally introduced even faster roads. Particular studded tyres chunk into the floor to supply spectacular grip; serving to make this one the quickest rallies of the 12 months with drivers ‘leaning’ their automobiles on snow banks by the perimeters of the street to hold extra pace by way of corners.
The rally will start on Thursday night with a brief dash stage in Umeå, which is run once more on Friday following two loops of three phases: Brattby and Sarsjöliden to the west had been pushed on Saturday and Sunday respectively final 12 months, whereas Botsmark to the north is new. Saturday’s repeated loop of three phases begins with two new assessments: Norrby and Floda, which is essentially the most northerly stage of the rally and likewise the longest at 17.6 miles. A double-length model of the Umeå stage rounds off the day, and likewise serves because the rally-ending Energy Stage on Sunday following two passes of one other new take a look at, Västervik.
Workforce quotes
Jari-Matti Latvala (Workforce Principal): “Our end result on Rallye Monte-Carlo was a implausible begin to the season and provides us an excellent feeling going to Rally Sweden. This can be a rally that I feel all of us look ahead to – and one I at all times want I might be driving myself. I’ve some excellent reminiscences from Sweden and so do our group, together with our first win collectively again in 2017. Final 12 months we loved the rally being in Umeå for the primary time with some good snow protection. Kalle was capable of win from first on the street however his probabilities will once more rely upon the circumstances and whether or not or not there’s a pleasant layer of ice. If there’s a whole lot of snow to brush it might be tougher for him, and it might be that Elfyn – who additionally actually enjoys these circumstances – might be within the higher place to struggle. I do know Taka additionally loves the snow, and though it’s his first time being nominated to attain factors for the group, we won’t be placing any further strain on him; we simply need him to proceed the work he did final 12 months.”
Kalle Rovanperä (driver Automobile 69): “It was nice to begin the season effectively in Monte Carlo with an excellent feeling and with good factors for the championship. We hope to proceed the identical method in Sweden and to benefit from the rally. We solely have one occasion like this every year and it’s at all times cool to have the studded tyres on the automobile and push arduous between the snow banks – it’s one thing particular. We had an excellent lead to Sweden final 12 months and we’ll attempt to repeat it this time. It may be tough to open the street on snow and it relies upon so much on how the circumstances might be. Our pre-event take a look at went very well, with excellent circumstances and a thick layer of ice on the street. Hopefully it’s like that for the rally too and we don’t endure an excessive amount of operating first on Friday.”
Elfyn Evans (driver Automobile 33): “General, Rallye Monte-Carlo was an excellent begin to the 12 months even when our end result was disappointing with the tempo that I feel we had. Now we head to Sweden and a totally completely different problem. Even with the snow and ice, it’s nonetheless one of many quickest rallies on the calendar, particularly for the reason that base has moved a bit additional north. I feel the phases are even quicker and we can have some new ones on this 12 months’s route that we’re but to find. It’s a rally the place it’s nearly not possible to have an ideal automobile on a regular basis, as a result of the grip you will have can change so much inside one loop of phases, however we had been capable of work by way of varied choices in our take a look at.”
Takamoto Katsuta (driver automobile 18): “I’m actually excited for Rally Sweden. Driving on snow feels very acquainted and comfy for me and I actually like these circumstances. Being one of many group’s three nominated drivers will perhaps convey somewhat bit extra strain than I’m used to however this place is the place I’ve actually wished to be. I’m certain there might be difficult moments however I’ll attempt to handle them and produce good factors for the group. I’ll simply do my finest and that is no completely different to earlier than. In testing on snow, the sensation within the automobile has been extremely good; I might say the group has made fairly an enormous step since final 12 months and hopefully this offers us extra confidence in Sweden. After all, the opposite groups are additionally bettering and growing so we’ll must be ‘full assault’!”
ENDS
