Co-driver Miikka Anttila.

The car was completed in the last minute before the rally. We could not test it at all. We were 4,5 seconds behind on the first stage. After this our times were good except on super special stage. This contest was exceptionally thrilling. We laid fourth in the standings when the rally was over and our deficit to the winner was the same 4,5 seconds which we lost on the first stage. The gap to third place was the smallest possible, 0,1 seconds.

4th overall, Class 4th

Toyota Corolla WRC
Service team Latvala Motorsport Oy.
Rally engineer Asko Kosonen

Co-driver Miikka Anttila.

Before the rally we put new suspension into the car and tested it thoroughly. This rally was a test for Neste Rally Finland, and it was almost flawless drive (approximately 95% of the rally went without mistakes) rewarded us with the 2nd place.

2nd overall, Class 2nd

Toyota Corolla WRC
Service team Latvala Motorsport Oy.
Rally engineer Asko Kosonen

Co-driver Miikka Anttila.

The Waltikka rally opened the summer season in Finland. I was quite excited because the roads were very fast. We had ran all the necessary tests on the car, so it was totally ready for this race. The rally began better than I could have hoped. I was second on special stage one. Only half a second away from the first. Arriving to first service I was 3rd, but not far from the 2nd position. At the end of SS4 I had a puncture and lost some time. But it didn´t bring me down, quite the opposite. I got the strength to carry on to SS5. I beat everyone on SS6 making the fastest time for the first time in my life in Finnish Rally Championship! On second service break I had risen to 2nd position and was able to keep that place until the end. But retirement wasn´t very far. The clutch broke down in the end of the last special stage and we just made across the finishing line in time!

2nd overall, Class 2nd

Toyota Corolla WRC
Service team Latvala Motorsport Oy.
Rally engineer Asko Kosonen

Co-driver Teppo Leino.

Originally my father supposed to drive this rally, but he said I would benefit much more driving this rally than he would. SS1 went really bad, because I didn´t find rhythm. Then we made some adjustements and after that everything started to work and so stage times improved. The rest of the day was ok. Maybe I drove too much sideways because in the end there was quite big gab between us and the lead.

I was not quite satisfied to fourth place but now I know what to improve in my driving. We´ll see in future how that goes.

4th overall, Class 4th

Toyota Corolla WRC
Service team Latvala Motorsport Oy.
Rally engineer Asko Kosonen

Co-driver Miikka Anttila.

It was great to return to WRC for a long time. First three stages were excellent, except on 2nd stage I braked little too much. As we arrived to service hault we were leading. There was only small gab between us and Kosti Katajamäki and Jouni Ampuja. On stage 4 we suffered from snow dust, because weather was calm. That´s why we tried to tape the lights, but it didn´t help at all. After SS5 there was 16 second deficit to Jouni Ampuja, who set a benchmark on that stage. I thought already that we are going to loose all possibilites to victory. I decided anyway to go flat out and give everything I had. A surprise waited us in the finish. Jouni Ampuja had glid off the road and lost lots of time, so we were the winners. Victory felt enormously good.

1st overall, Class 1st

Toyota Corolla WRC
Service team Latvala Motorsport Oy.
Rally engineer Asko Kosonen