In a surprise move, Toyota has altered its driver line-up for upcoming World Rally Championship (WRC) events, with rising star Sami Pajari set to make his Rally1 debut in Finland instead of Latvia. The Finnish driver will pilot a fourth GR Yaris Rally1 at the Rally Finland event, allowing Toyota to field its strongest available line-up in Latvia.
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In a stunning announcement, Toyota Gazoo Racing team principal Jari-Matti Latvala will put his leadership duties on hold to compete in the 2023 Rally Finland, marking his first-ever outing in a Rally1 machine. This one-off appearance will provide the Finnish rally legend an opportunity to experience the latest WRC cars in competition, a desire he has expressed for some time.
As the WRC and FIA strive to introduce more varied event formats, this weekend’s Sardinia rally will trial a new compact sprint format, marking a significant departure from the traditional four-day events. This innovative approach is part of the FIA’s vision for the future of rallying and could become an option for other organisers in the near future.