Toyota’s chances of winning both World Rally Championship titles in 2024 have been dealt a severe blow after Acropolis Rally Greece.
The Japanese manufacturer went into the event 20 points behind their rivals Hyundai, having won six rallies across the season compared to the Korean outfit’s four.
Eight-time world champion Sebastien Ogier had been 27 points behind championship leader Thierry Neuville going into Greece. With the title in his sights, Ogier confirmed that he will be competing in the last four rounds of the season as he eyes a record-equalling ninth championship.
But Toyota suffered a disastrous weekend in Greece as Hyundai stormed to a one-two-three finish, with Neuville winning from Dani Sordo and Ott Tanak.
Speaking with Motorsport.com after the event, team principal Jari-Matti Latvala outlined the team’s new target after their Rally Greece performance have put their title chances in doubt.
Jari-Matti Latvala urges Toyota drivers to ‘forget’ about WRC titles after Rally Greece
All three of Toyota’s drivers – Ogier, Elfyn Evans and Takamoto Katsuta – suffered issues in Greece that plagued their weekend.
Evans had a miserable time as he suffered a puncture and turbo failure on the opening stage which cost him almost 10 minutes, before retiring on Saturday after a slow-speed roll. Katsuta won the second stage, but the Japanese driver crashed out at the following stage.
Ogier had been leading until stage five when a similar turbo issue to Evans cost him two and a half minutes. On Sunday, the Frenchman had again been leading when a puncture sent him into a roll, but scored 13 Saturday points as he ended up finishing on Sunday.
With Hyundai locking out the top three, Latvala conceded that Toyota’s chances of both titles are now unlikely and the Finn would rather their drivers focus on winning the last three events of the season.
He said: “Hyundai start to be in a position, that with current [points] system, they will defend it [the lead] now for the last three remaining events, so they won’t take such risk to lose those [titles].
“For us, the [title] chances are pretty much gone and we need to change the target to try, from now on, to start winning events.
“We need to forget about both championships for a little bit. We have been in a situation where we have been trying to force it and we can’t force it anymore.
“We can only do it by driving well by winning the events without pressure for the drivers. That is the only way and if something goes wrong with Hyundai, then it can be a massive bonus.
“But at the end of the day, we need to forget the targets and just try to relax the drivers. And if something great happens, then it would be a Cinderella story. But at the moment, we need to forget thinking about the championship points.”
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Can Toyota still win either WRC title?
Hyundai’s dominance in Greece have allowed them to extend their lead over Toyota to 35 points with rallies in Chile, Central Europe and Japan remaining.
Ott Tanak has leapfrogged Ogier for second in the drivers’ standings by four points, with teammate Neuville extending his lead to 34 points.
With just three events left and with the championship’s current points system, it is looking increasingly likely that Neuville will walk away with his first WRC title having finished runner-up five times.
Toyota will be needing a miracle if they are to clinch both titles, so perhaps a more relaxed approach like Latvala wants could benefit them.