Latvala relishes new driver’s arrival
Jari-matti Latvala is determined not to let Ott Tanak’s arrival in the Toyota team derail his intentions of challenging for a maiden World Rally Championship next season.
Latvala arrived late at the Toyota squad last season, but has worked hard to bring the team around him – something he wants to maintain even when the Estonian arrives.
“I have worked to make the Yaris my car,” he said. “Now [Ott] Tanak will have to adapt to a new car. It will be quite a good fight in the team, but I think we have a strong team for next year. I know that I want to be world champion and to be world champion I have to be quicker than everybody and that includes him.”
Latvala has warned Tanak not to expect his move from M-sport to Toyota to be troublefree. He added: “When I came from being with Ford, I was there for many years and it was difficult to jump in the VW. But this change to Toyota was easy because I had the experience of moving. For Tanak the move from M-sport to Toyota will be his first change and it can be a little difficult to adapt when you have been in one team for so long.
“When I went to VW I went with a little feeling that it was Sebastien Ogier’s team. If you are quicker [than your teammate] then it’s OK, but if not then you can stay a little bit in the shadows.”
Tanak admitted next year would be a step into the unknown for him. “I need to get used to new people and a new team,” he said. “It will be a big job. As for how difficult will it be to move for the first time, I have no idea – I haven’t moved yet!”