Latvala Takes Fourth For Toyota Gazoo Racing in Tight Climax to the Tour de Corse
Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team’s Jari-Matti Latvala battled to an impressive fourth place on the Tour de Corse on Sunday, the fourth round of the 2017 World Rally Championship. After more than 316 kilometres of competitive driving across three days the Finn wrested the place from Craig Breen’s Citroën by just one tenth of a second, thanks to a storming fastest time in the final power stage.
The result, including an extra five points from the power stage, consolidates Latvala’s second place in the drivers’ championship.
France’s round of the World Rally Championship was the first of the season to be fought out entirely on asphalt roads. Latvala, co-driven by Miikka Anttila, ended the first day down in sixth position, while team-mate Juho Hänninen endured a tough start, sidelined following a collision with a bridge parapet on the first stage. Adjustments to the Yaris WRC’s set-up raised performance for the second day’s action, with both drivers posting top-three stage times. Hänninen sadly was not to progress beyond the first stage of the final day, retiring from the event after sliding off the road.
Team Principal Tommi Mäkinen praised the performance of both team and drivers: “Both drivers said that the car felt much better after some changes we made on Saturday, although it was already promising on the first day. So this result is really a team effort, with the car being improved over the three days thanks to everyone’s hard work and collaboration.
“Finishing this close to the podium on our first asphalt event is a fantastic achievement and actually something I never managed myself as a driver: my best result in Corsica was sixth! This was another great job by Jari-Matti, who drove brilliantly on the power stage in particular, and also from Juho, who was able to match Jari-Matti’s pace despite having nothing like the same level of experience. He can also feel proud at the end of this rally.”
Rally Argentina now awaits Toyota Gazoo Racing, an all-gravel rally run at high altitudes. The event will take place from 27 to 30 April, based in Villa Carlos Paz, near Cordoba.
PROVISIONAL FINAL RESULT, RALLY FRANCE (TOUR DE CORSE):
1 Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul (Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC) 3h22m53.4s
2 Sebastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (Ford Fiesta WRC) +54.7s
3 Dani Sordo/Marc Marti (Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC) +56.0s
4 Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (Toyota Yaris WRC) +1m09.6s
5 Craig Breen/Scott Martin (Citroen C3 WRC) +1m09.7s
6 Hayden Paddon/John Kennard (Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC) +2m16.3s
7 Andreas Mikkelsen/Anders Jaeger (Skoda Fabia R5) +8m10.7s
8 Teemu Suninen/Mikko Markkula (Ford Fiesta R5) +9m17.0s
9 Stephane Sarrazin/Jacques-Julien Renucci (Skoda Fabia R5) +9m23.6s
10 Yohan Rossel/Benoit Fulcrand (Citroen DS3 R5) +12m57.1s
Retired Juho Hänninen/Kaj Lindström (Toyota Yaris WRC) SS9, off road
(Results as of 18:00 on Sunday, for the latest results please visit www.wrc.com)
2017 FIA World Rally Championship for drivers after round four:
1 Sebastien Ogier 88
2 Jari-Matti Latvala 75
3 Thierry Neuville 54
4 Ott Tanak 48
5 Dani Sordo 47
6 Craig Breen 33
7 Kris Meeke 27
8 Hayden Paddon 25
9 Elfyn Evans 20
10 Andreas Mikkelsen 12
12 Juho Hänninen 9
2017 FIA World Rally Championship for manufacturers after round four:
1 M-Sport World Rally Team 129
2 Hyundai Motorsport 105
3 TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRT 79
4 Citroen Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team 71
ENDS
Note to editors
Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team official team media website www.tgrwrt.com.
URL: www.tgrwrt.com
Login: please enter user email address
Password:yariswrc
Follow Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TOYOTAGAZOORacingWRC
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/TGR_WRC (@TGR_WRC)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tgr_wrc/ (@TGR_WRC)
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCtALHup92q5xIFb7n9UXVg
