Toyota’s long-standing reluctance to use team orders in the World Rally Championship (WRC) has been a topic of hot debate, especially as the competition intensifies and rival Hyundai’s willingness to make strategic calls has often borne fruit. However, with four-time world champion Juha Kankkunen stepping in to share the team principal role with Jari-Matti Latvala in 2025, could we see a shift in Toyota’s traditionally egalitarian philosophy?
Toyota’s Equal Treatment Policy vs. Hyundai’s Ruthlessness
Under Latvala’s leadership, Toyota has maintained a noble but at times contentious policy of treating its drivers equally, regardless of championship stakes. This often left Elfyn Evans and Takamoto Katsuta disadvantaged, particularly in 2024, when Kalle Rovanperä and Sébastien Ogier—in part-time roles—benefited from superior road positions, inadvertently snatching points away from full-time contenders.
While Toyota’s results speak for themselves—eight manufacturers’ titles and nine drivers’ championships—the lack of team orders has raised eyebrows among observers, particularly when compared to Hyundai’s proactive strategy of backing specific drivers when stakes are high.
In 2025, the landscape will shift yet again:
- Rovanperä returns to a full-time campaign.
- Ogier remains part-time, with a dynamic schedule.
- Hyundai fields a strong full-time trio, adding Adrien Fourmaux to bolster their efforts.
Kankkunen’s Perspective: A Diplomatic Stand with Wiggle Room
Despite his own experience with team orders—both benefiting from and bowing to them—Kankkunen initially rejects the need for such strategies at Toyota:
“No,” he said candidly, before leaving room for nuance. “It depends what kind of situation or whatever happens.”
Kankkunen explained that the modern WRC—shorter rallies, less mechanical attrition, and flat-out racing—has reduced the necessity for team orders compared to his era. Back then, when endurance was as critical as outright pace, tactical interventions often decided titles:
“The team orders at the time [I was driving]… were more, let’s say, important somehow to help somebody… because there were so many teams, so many more cars. It’s quite straightforward nowadays, and everybody is going basically flat out from the start to the end.”
However, Kankkunen’s measured words suggest he may be more pragmatic than Latvala if a title hangs in the balance later in the season. Should a Toyota driver emerge as the leading contender, Kankkunen’s experience under Cesare Fiorio’s Lancia regime—famed for ruthless decisions—might influence his willingness to make a tough call.
The Balancing Act for 2025
While Kankkunen downplays the need for team orders early in the season, his open-ended stance hints that circumstances could dictate otherwise. If Toyota finds itself locked in a fierce title fight with Hyundai, Kankkunen’s seasoned instincts could tip the scales:
- Early season: Toyota may stick to equal treatment, allowing all drivers to race freely.
- Late season: Should one driver emerge as the title contender, Kankkunen may advocate for prioritization to maximize Toyota’s chances.
Conclusion: Will Toyota Bend Under Pressure?
Kankkunen’s appointment introduces a fascinating dynamic to Toyota’s leadership. While he aligns with Toyota’s culture of equal opportunities, his pragmatic experience in an era when team orders were commonplace could provide the flexibility Toyota needs when the stakes are highest.
With Hyundai’s proactive strategy and a strong roster in 2025, Toyota may finally have to reconsider its “no team orders” philosophy if it hopes to maintain its dominance. Whether Kankkunen pulls the trigger when it matters most remains to be seen—but under his guidance, the team might just have the strategic edge it needs.
