Latvala opens up on 'toughest day': Solberg was in tears, Evans worked tirelessly
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Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Championship team principal Jari-Matti Latvala has endured his fair share of heartbreak throughout his motorsport career, but last Sunday proved to be one of the most challenging tests of his professional life. In his own words, it was the toughest day he has experienced since taking charge of the Japanese squad.
On the surface, the situation appeared paradoxical, as Toyota celebrated clinching their seventh drivers' title in the last eight seasons. However, the joy of victory was clouded by dramatic circumstances: while one driver reached the pinnacle, another suffered agonising heartbreak just metres from the finish line.
"I have to admit that this was probably my hardest day as a team principal," Latvala told DirtFish. "To see one driver lose the championship just 200 metres before the finish, on the penultimate corner, while the other—who has finished runner-up five times and fought so relentlessly for the trophy—finally achieves it... the emotions are completely mixed, especially when you are trying to be there for both of them."
Unlike the drivers' respective race engineers Rui Soares (for Elfyn Evans) and Stephen Williams (for Oliver Solberg), Latvala could not show favouritism. His role demanded complete neutrality, and his actions in the dramatic aftermath drew widespread attention.
The Finn opted to go directly to Solberg first, who was visibly distraught inside his car at the final stage stop control, before heading over to celebrate with newly crowned world champion Evans.
"Oliver was utterly devastated," Latvala explained. "He was in tears, and you could see how difficult it was for him—he had it all in his hands and lost it at the very last moment. I tried to encourage him, telling him that he won the rally, that he was the fastest driver in the championship, and that his time for the title simply hadn't arrived yet. I am sure he will be a multiple world champion in the future, and he must look ahead. I know words don't help much at such a moment. He needs time to get over the pain, but I am convinced he will come back even stronger."
As for the new champion Elfyn Evans, Latvala had competed against him for years on the WRC stages before stepping into the managerial role at Toyota to succeed Tommi Mäkinen in 2021.
"He works harder than anyone," Latvala emphasised. "Nobody has put in as much relentless effort as he has to achieve this success. I believe karma did its job, and all that hard work finally brought him the title today. If he hadn't won now, I honestly don't know if he ever would have. This triumph will allow him to race with a much calmer mindset in the future and fight for further accolades with confidence. Had he suffered another defeat after so many close calls, finding the mental strength to go again would have been exceptionally tough. But now, he is stronger than ever."
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