TOYOTA GAZOO RACING WORLD RALLY TEAM

CAR: TOYOTA YARIS WRC TEAM PRINCIPAL: TOMMI MAKINEN

OTT TANAK

Nationality: Estonian Age: 30 Co-driver: Martin Jarveoja (EST) WRC rounds started: 89 WRC wins: 6 WRGB starts: 7 WRGB best result: 2nd (2016) A man right at the very top of his game. Comes to Deeside on the back of three consecutive wins in Finland, Germany and Turkey and a similar result would reel in championship leader Thierry Neuville in even closer. Can he do it? Absolutely. The Yaris WRC has struggled for grip in changeable conditions recently, but the team’s confident it’s on top of those issues. If it is, a fourth straight win for the super-quick Estonian could well be on the cards.

JARI-MATTI LATVALA

Nationality: Finnish Age: 33 Co-driver: Miikka Anttila (FIN) WRC rounds started: 192 WRC wins: 17 WRGB starts: 16 WRGB best result: 1st (2011/2012) Let’s be honest, if Elfyn doesn’t win, most of us would like to see Jari-matti on the top step of the podium on Sunday afternoon. He likes Wales, loves this event and simply adores Myherin. His wins came when the event was based more down country, but he knows what’s needed to make the most out of the north; don’t forget he’s been around for a while now… he drove Penmachno when he finished second on the Cambrian Rally 16 years ago.

ESAPEKKA LAPPI

Nationality: Finnish Age: 27 Co-driver: Janne Ferm (FIN) WRC rounds started: 39 WRC wins: 1 WRGB starts: 2 WRGB best result: 9th (2017) Probably best not to expect too much from last year’s Rally Finland winner. Just when he thought he’d started to understand this event last year, he found another series of inconsistent conditions and unfathomable corners. While this will be another learning year for the Finn, when he’s comfortable and confident on the faster stages in mid Wales, it’s quite possible we could see some rapid progression leading to some fastest times on the second run at stages.