Hyundai may hold the upper hand in the 2024 World Rally Championship (WRC) as it heads into Rally Japan with a comfortable lead, but Toyota believes it has the mindset—and strategy—to pull off a last-minute upset. With Hyundai already securing its first-ever drivers’ title, the team has its sights set on claiming a historic double with the manufacturers’ crown. However, Toyota team principal Jari-Matti Latvala sees Hyundai’s dual focus as an opportunity for Toyota to mount a surprise comeback.
Toyota, trailing by 15 points, needs a flawless weekend to snatch the manufacturers’ title. Latvala stressed that his team is focused on replicating their Chile performance, where they took maximum points. “Of course, it’s not the easiest job, but we are still in the game,” he said. If Toyota pulls off the maximum points strategy, it would outscore Hyundai by at least 17, enough to seal the title.
Latvala pointed out that Hyundai’s drivers, Thierry Neuville and Ott Tänak, will face the pressure of fighting for the drivers’ title in addition to the manufacturers’ crown, which could be a distraction. “Pressure is a funny thing; it makes driving a bit different,” Latvala said. “Thierry, with his first chance to win the title, doesn’t want to necessarily attack all the time, and that can open the door for us.”
Yet, Hyundai boss Cyril Abiteboul sees things differently. With the drivers’ title already secured, he feels that Hyundai can now focus exclusively on the manufacturers’ title without distraction. “Once something is already secured in the bank, then you can focus on the rest,” Abiteboul said, emphasizing that Hyundai intends to press Toyota hard. He recalled that this season’s thin margins have led to unexpected points swings, such as those seen in Greece and Chile, underscoring the unpredictability of the final showdown.
For Toyota, this is more than just another race—it’s about keeping a streak alive. The team has clinched both titles in each of the past three seasons. Failing to secure a championship in 2024 would mark Toyota’s first title-less year since re-entering the WRC in 2017, adding even more pressure to deliver a last-minute victory.
Hyundai may be in the driver’s seat, but Toyota has everything to gain—and nothing left to lose. As Rally Japan approaches, both teams are bracing for a high-stakes battle that promises to be as intense as the WRC has seen in years.
