2022 WRC News & Rumours

[Danny0405]

https://www.rallit.fi/saako-esapekka...suora-vastaus/

First of all the article states that Rovanperä and Evans likely continue at Toyota for 2023, but then we have interesting comments from Latvala

- Ogier has said he wants to do Monte Carlo, but nothing is agreed upon yet
- There could still be two drivers in the third car
- Latvala would like Katsuta to continue in a fourth car but says the decision is made in Japan
- Latvala doesn't want to change the drivers at all but says it's about the budget and whether they can afford more drivers and four cars. "There's no reason to change drivers but this is depending on many factors"

To me it sounds like there won't be a fourth car and maybe pressure to put Taka into the third car with half season. This could be in line with Taka's comments in Rally Finland, saying "I don't know if I drive here next year"

Yeah, clearly, there is probably some pressure from Japan to promote Katsuta in 3rd car, I was surprised his name was not evoked in the summer last year but, anyway, his bad streak justified to keep him in 4th car and the new regulation justified also to deal with experienced drivers in the main team.
Now, he is quite regular even if a bit slow and it will be complicated for Latvala to resist to Japanese pressure, all the more with Lappi doing an average season so far. The main question mark with Katsuta is pure tarmac where he is really weak (not talking about Mickey Mouse stages or Monza circuit stages) but if the rumors about calendar are true, it will reduce the issue (all the more if Ogier does Monte Carlo). Maybe they could also keep Lappi as a specialist for Sweden/Estonia/Finland (would also help Katsuta to have better road positions for gravel by missing 3/4 events).

However, I would be really disappointed by Toyota if they do not have a 4th car for at least the European rounds with a 5-6 rally program for a youngster such as Rossel or Lindholm (and 2/3 rounds for Ogier eventually). I’ve no issue with them having a car mainly driven by a Japanese as long as it is compensated by giving some chance to another deserving youngster. Not really a behavior to develop rally as Toyoda is promoting.