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Motorsport

Sport

How Toyota plans to manage Rally Sweden grandstand finish

Toyota Elfyn Evans Takamoto Katsuta Rally Sweden JariMatti Latvala

Toyota will need to think about “strategy for its drivers” as a grandstand finish awaits Rally Sweden with only three seconds splitting team-mates Elfyn Evans and Takamoto Katsuta.

The Japanese marque has always operated a firm no team orders policy among its crews but team principal Jari-Matti Latvala has hinted that some form of strategy could come into play on Sunday.

Evans will head into Sunday’s three stages with a slender lead after witnessing an 8.6s advantage over Katsuta reduced to three seconds, following a brush with a snowbank in stage 14 and a stall in stage 15.

These small mistakes have also hauled Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville into the victory fight, 6.3s adrift, with stablemate Ott Tanak only 12.8s in arrears, in what appears to be a four-way fight for the top step of the podium.

When reminded of Toyota’s no team orders policy and asked if that meant his drivers would have to drive flat out on Sunday, Latvala said: “Yes of course, but at the same time you have to remember that with these [new Hankook] tyres we don’t have so much experience yet. So taking the big risks, you need to think about that, and if it is valuable or not to do that, because on the other hand the points are very valuable for the championship.

“We don’t ever do team orders at this time of the year but we need to think about the strategy a little bit for the drivers to see what is best.”

When pressed further on what he meant by strategy, he added: “I don’t know yet. It is going to be a Super Sunday and it is going to be really exciting to watch those stages.”

Elfyn Evans, Scott Martin, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, Kalle Rovanperä, Jonne Halttunen, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 (Photo by: Toyota Racing)

Rally leader Evans says there is no need for Toyota to employ team orders and expects a fair fight for victory.

“So far with the exception of the odd moment here and there, it has been a pretty good weekend but tomorrow is when the points get dished out so that is when you have to make it count," said Evans.

“It is still very open and we have to go with the same rhythm we have had all weekend and see what happens.

“There is no need [to speak to Jari-Matti about team orders]. This is the way the team has always worked, it will always be fair and we can fight tomorrow.

“I’m not saying I can definitely do it on my own but what I am saying is there is no need for team orders.”

Katsuta, eyeing a maiden WRC win, admitted he is relishing being in the victory hunt but remains focussed on the task that lies ahead.

“It was a quite strong day and it is going to be interesting tomorrow. The gap is not big so it is a very important day tomorrow. I don’t need to do anything special, I just need to do the same and see what can happen,” said Katsuta.

“I have seen Elfyn and Thierry have been fighting many rallies before but it is a bit of a strange feeling to be with those guys, but it feels good and hopefully the stages match up for us. I will try to do my best but I need to bring the car back, which is quite important for me.”

Meanwhile, Neuville expects a “flat-out” approach from himself and his rivals to emerge from one of Rally Sweden’s most hotly-contested rallies with victory.

“We have to [give it go] definitely and we will with the extra points up for grabs,” said Neuville.

"In such a close battle everybody will be flat out and let’s cross our fingers that everything goes the way we would like it to go.”