Toyota World Rally Championship boss Jari-Matti Latvala says it’s a “massive aid” for his workforce to be again within the producers’ title combat after dominating Rally Chile.
Latvala had all however written off the workforce’s title hopes after a troublesome Acropolis Rally Greece earlier this month left Toyota dealing with a 35-point deficit with three rounds of the season remaining.
Nonetheless, Toyota issued the proper response in Chile as Kalle Rovanperä headed a 1-2 for the model forward of team-mate Elfyn Evans.
Sébastian Ogier led dwelling a 1-2-3 for Toyota within the Tremendous Sunday standings, whereas including the Energy Stage win to claw again important floor on rivals Hyundai.
The factors haul has decreased Hyundai’s result in 17 factors forward of subsequent month’s Central European Rally and the season finale in Japan, reigniting Toyota’s hopes of claiming a fourth consecutive producers’ crown.
“Having two devastating Sundays earlier than Chile, it had added numerous stress,” mentioned Latvala.
“However now with this end result, getting the utmost factors in Chile with the rally [victory], the Tremendous Sunday factors and Energy Stage, actually will get us again within the combat for the producer title.
“It’s a massive aid for us and for the Japanese facet [of the business] that we nonetheless have an opportunity.”
Kalle Rovanperä, Jonne Halttunen, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
Photograph by: Crimson Bull Content material Pool
Victory in Chile marked Rovanperä’s fourth win of his partial marketing campaign, including to triumphs in Kenya, Poland and Latvia.
However this weekend’s success wasn’t plain crusing for the Finn, who struggled for velocity on Friday’s levels earlier than surging to the lead when thick fog and rain hit the levels on Saturday afternoon.
“I used to be combating loads on Friday not being so snug within the automobile, in order that was at all times massive problem,” mentioned Rovanperä.
“We made it via with none massive errors and after that we tried to climb again.
“We might try this particularly when the circumstances grow to be troublesome and we might do massive gaps in comparison with the others.
“I’m actually pleased with how every thing went and it’s actually good factors for the workforce, which is necessary for the groups’ championship.
“For certain it [the manufacturers’ title fight] is on now; we now have caught them [Hyundai] rather a lot and every thing is once more open.”
