Latvala Plans WRC Return Next Season and Challenges Ogier

Finnish motorsport figure Jari-Matti Latvala, who officially still leads the Toyota team in the World Rally Championship (WRC), plans to return behind the wheel next season and contest a few WRC rounds. He told the website RallyJournal.com at Rally Sardinia. Latvala is 41, and his plan has been reinforced by French driver Sebastien Ogier, a nine-time world champion, breaking his record for the number of WRC starts.

A record as extra motivation

At Rally Sardinia, Ogier started his 214th WRC rally, one more than Latvala. The Finn admitted to some disappointment that a former team-mate had surpassed his achievement, but said it has also given him extra motivation to come back. He said it would be good to do a couple of rallies in a Rally2 car.

Latvala said he will most likely drive in the Rally2 class, because there are already many cars in Rally1, the top WRC class, for next season and no free cars are available. In his view, five or six drivers could compete in that class.

Ogier's plans and Latvala's form

Ogier may also enter a round next year. However, the Frenchman has already said he will not start the first round of the 2027 season, Rallye Monte-Carlo. He has also shown little enthusiasm for the new top-class cars to be introduced under new technical regulations.

This season, deputy Juha Kankkunen has handled the Toyota team principal duties at most rounds in Latvala's place. Latvala himself has competed in recent seasons in the European Historic Rally Championship, where he has won, and has regularly taken part in Rally Finland. This summer he was the fastest Rally2 driver there and finished eighth overall. After that rally he said it would not be his last.

Most WRC starts

In the all-time WRC starts list, Ogier leads with 214, followed by Latvala with 213 and Spain's Daniel Sordo with 197.