Probably one of Latvala/Meeke will leave Toyota at the end of next year, that's my feeling. Whoever has the worst results could make way for Kalle if that is what is indeed earmarked. Would make sense with the 1yr contracts for Jari and Kris...

But it's an incredibly exciting and dynamic team line-up in the meantime. One that clearly many on here and in the motorsport press didn't even think was going to happen, so let's enjoy it.

Makinen has done things differently since he took control of this Toyota project, and has been slated since the get-go by many. Including me at times when questioning certain decisions/things.

Whether it was the decision to run the team out of the farm in remote Finland, taking the development away from TMG, when he overlooked 'golden boy' at the time Mikkelsen for Latvala, when he went for Tanak last season over pursuing Seb Ogier, and now going back for a second time to finally sign Meeke, to create this aggressive driver line-up. All those decisions have been criticised by many.

But honestly, Makinen can sit there and say he's got the majority of decisions right in the last few years. They got a podium on their first ever event, won the 2nd event in Sweden and saw Jari help develop that Yaris so much over the winter before Monte Carlo. Jari was up there in the championship and would've been towards the end of last season if it wasn't for the technical problems in Poland and Finland, so clearly they haven't regretted signing him. Makinen again mentioned in yesterday's press release about the great work Latvala has done for the team.

So I think Tommi now deserves the benefit of the doubt. His team lead the manufacturers by a decent margin at this stage, he's signed and helped further develop Tanak into the fastest WRC driver (imo), and as he really wants Meeke, who are any of us to argue with this signing. He clearly knows what he's doing and how he wants to run his team, and he clearly looks for certain things in his drivers.

Whether you like Meeke/Makinen/Toyota or not, what the "village team" are doing is great for the WRC. And with Japan on board I hope they'll be around for years to come to build something lasting in the sport. I'm sure that's what Makinen wants.