The team of principal of Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT, Jari-Matti Latvala, says that the reliability made the difference compared to M-Sport Ford and Hyundai this year and feels that it amazing that his team became WRC Champions with two rounds remaining until the season finale.
The Japanese team managed to outscore Hyundai in Chile last week by 15 points after Esapekka Lappi's and Teemu Suninen's retirements on Friday and Sunday respectively, therefore two of Toyota drivers had to score four points more than Thierry Neuville in Powerstage. Elfyn Evans and Kalle Rovanpera were able to take nine points from PS compared to Neuville who scored only three points there which means that Toyota scored six points on the final stage of Rally Chile and clinched its seventh Manufacturer title in World Rally Championship. As this season comes to an end, the drivers' and the co-drivers' titles will end up to one of Toyota's crews with Rovanpera and Jonne Halttunen having an advantage over Evans and Scott Martin as their gap is at 31 points.
"I’m really happy with how this rally ended for us", Latvala said.
"It wasn’t the easiest one because Saturday was a really demanding day, and this morning we thought it would be difficult to get on the podium.
"But it shows that in rallying you just have to be patient and keep going until the end, because it can always bring surprises.
"I’m really proud of the team and crews for all the work we’ve done during the season.
"Two rounds before the end of the season is the earliest we’ve ever won the manufacturers’ title as TGR-WRT.
"The competition is hard and the cars are close, but I think we have made the difference with our reliability and bringing the cars home without problems, as we did here.
"Now we are excited to see which of our two crews fighting for the drivers’ and co-drivers’ title will succeed over the last two rounds".
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