Toyota’s World Rally Championship campaign took a devastating blow at Acropolis Rally Greece, with team principal Jari-Matti Latvala all but conceding defeat in both the drivers’ and manufacturers’ titles after a catastrophic weekend. The Japanese manufacturer failed to place any of its cars in the top 10, as Sébastien Ogier, Elfyn Evans, and Takamoto Katsuta finished a distant 16th, 18th, and 30th overall, respectively.
Ogier’s crash during the final powerstage epitomized Toyota’s misfortune. The Frenchman had been on a recovery mission after a turbo failure on Friday cost him two minutes. Despite leading Sunday’s standings and pushing for valuable points, Ogier’s aggressive approach led to a costly rollover just a mile into the powerstage, dashing any hopes of salvaging a podium and handing victory to Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville.
Latvala acknowledged the harsh reality Toyota now faces: “The gap is too big. The championships—both for drivers and manufacturers—are slipping away. With just three rallies left, it’s almost impossible to claw back the points deficit.”
Hyundai, meanwhile, capitalized on Toyota’s downfall, securing a 1-2-3 finish, with Neuville stretching his lead to 34 points over teammate Ott Tänak, while Ogier now trails by 38 points in third place.
Reflecting on Ogier’s crash, Latvala defended his driver’s aggressive strategy: “Séb had no choice but to push flat out. We were in a position where we had to take risks to stay in the title fight. Unfortunately, it backfired, and our chances for the championship are now all but gone.”
Latvala has shifted Toyota’s focus for the remainder of the season. “We will approach the last three rallies with a mindset of winning individual events rather than chasing the championship. If the wins bring us back into the title race, it will be a huge bonus, but we’re not going to let that pressure affect us.”
Ogier, who managed to salvage 13 points from the rally despite his crash, shared Latvala’s frustration. “It’s been a strange weekend—almost perfect, but not enough. A turbo failure on Friday and my mistake on the powerstage wiped out all our efforts.”
As for his title chances, Ogier remains realistic but determined: “Mathematically, we’re still in it, but realistically, the odds are slim. We’ll contest the final three rounds and keep fighting, but I’m not under any illusions about the challenge ahead.”
With just three rounds remaining in the WRC season, Toyota’s focus has clearly shifted from championship aspirations to race-by-race victories, hoping for a turnaround in luck while keeping an eye on a potential Hyundai stumble.
