The World Rally Championship (WRC) 2023 has started! Morizo and Jari-Matti Latvala, Team Principle for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team, shared an insight-packed discussion about the team at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2023. Here's the scoop on their shop talk.
The Tokyo Auto Salon was held at the Makuhari Messe in Chiba Prefecture from January 13 to 15. About 180,000 car enthusiasts visited the venue over the three days and filled the space with passion and excitement for cars.
During the exhibition, the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing booth stage hosted a series of captivating events covering a variety of themes and attracting crowds of car fans.
This time, we will focus on a talk session held January 14, titled “What Kind of Team is the Finnish Team?”
Taking the stage were Akio Toyoda (aka Morizo), President of Toyota Motor Corporation; Jari-Matti Latvala, Team Principal at TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team (TGR-WRT); Yuichiro Haruna, TGR-WRT Project Director; and Yuta Tomikawa from Toyota Times, who served as the moderator.
The following is a report on the talk where Morizo described the team as “family-like and professional,” and which was packed with other fascinating insights about the WRT.
An Epic Showdown Between Morizo and Latvala
The session began with a video showing a dirt track race between Morizo and Latvala that took place secretly after the Japan round of the WRC in November.
Battling the clock, the two raised clouds of dust as they competed against each other, driving GR86s on a course set up in Gamagori City, Aichi Prefecture. Latvala asked for a retry, and the video concluded with the message, “The outcome will be announced soon.”
Moderator Tomikawa asked the crowd, “You must be wondering what the result was,” and then invited the three guests onto the stage.
So, what do you think was the outcome of the rally showdown you just watched? Well, you can probably guess from Latvala’s expression.
Cutting back to the monitor, the video showed the pair exchanging a few words as the results were announced. Morizo laughed when he was declared the winner, while Latvala slumped and clutched his head in defeat.
So, as you can see, Morizo won!
Morizo stood up, raising his arm in victory. The audience laughed and applauded.
Morizo
Latvala is a world-champion driver; you all know that, right? I’m just an ordinary guy who likes to drive.
Tomikawa
An ordinary guy who likes to drive beats a world champion. That’s a bit frustrating, isn’t it, Latvala?
Latvala
Morizo says he is an “ordinary driver,” but in reality, he is a semi-pro.
But, to tell the truth, losing to Morizo felt more disappointing than when I lost any world championship race. I didn’t want to accept this defeat, as I hate to lose (laughs).
Tomikawa
Latvala, did you really try your hardest?
Morizo
Yes, he did. All the WRT team members are serious when it comes to competing.
Tomikawa
In fact, it wasn’t just Latvala who raced; all the WRC drivers participated in the competition, and only one could beat Morizo.
Morizo
But you know, the reason for that is that we got to set all the rules (laughs).
Tomikawa
It was a course you were familiar with, right?
Morizo
Yes. And we did not allow any of them to do a trial run, not even once. We also decided what kind of car we would use. I couldn’t have won win otherwise! (laughs).
Tomikawa
Actually, Morizo and Latvala are facing off not only in rally trials like this but in other races as well.
Morizo
As you heard in the video, he wants to display the car he drove in the WRC in his museum.
Tomikawa
He wants to make the car he won with in 2017 a part of his collection?
Morizo
Yes. He made that request, and I told him only if he beats me, so the battle continues.
Tomikawa
So, he hasn’t beaten you yet?
Latvala
That’s right. And I really want that car. So, I am putting a lot of pressure on myself and must find a way to win.
I don’t want to feel this disappointed. So, in the next round, I need to beat Morizo.
Morizo
Our next battle is coming up soon. It will be in Finland next month.
Tomikawa
So, you’re going to Finland.
Morizo
This will be in conjunction with training in Finland and be the third race between Latvala and me.
*The first race was the Super Taikyu Fuji 24-hour race, streamed live by Toyota Times Athletes Now last year. It was a one-win one-loss draw, with Morizo winning in the qualifying round and Latvala in the main race.
Tomikawa
Gamagori is Morizo’s home track. However, Finland is Latvala’s home track. So, it is kind of like a home-and-away series, right?
Morizo
That’s right.
Tomikawa
What do you think, Haruna? Is this competition really head-to-head between the two?
Haruna
Yeah, for sure. I thought it would be more about having fun with the competition, but it's become very competitive, like an actual World Rally race.
It's quite interesting, but I want to tell them to bring that same intensity when racing in the WRC, too (laughs).
Tomikawa
Which is more pressure, the showdown with Morizo or the WRC, for which you are the team principal.
Latvala
Of course, there is more pressure in the showdown with Morizo! (laughs)
The next race after the Finnish round is already decided!?
Morizo and Latvala are continuing their battle; in fact, the next few rounds have already been decided.
Tomikawa
I have heard that Latvala will also make an appearance at Rally Hokkaido…
Morizo
That’s right. Norihiko Katsuta will compete at the All-Japan Rally Championship Shinshiro Rally in Aichi Prefecture in the Rally2 car just shown in the demo run.
You will be able to see the Norihiko vs Jari-Matti Rally2 car battle at the Japan Rally Championship Hokkaido Rally, so I hope all of you look forward to seeing that.
Tomikawa
We are receiving some applause from the audience. Thank you. All of you like rally racing, I see.
Haruna
Earlier, Morizo, you said something like, “I will be participating too.”
Morizo
Right. The car I have entered in the Rally Challenge will also compete in the All-Japan Rally this year.
I have yet to participate in the All-Japan Rally, but I’m thinking I should compete if both of them are going to be there.
Tomikawa
What!? Really? This is a bit of news. So, that means we can see a real showdown again in Hokkaido, right?
Morizo
The race class is different, so we will have to figure out how to include it in our count, but I hope everyone will enjoy the races, including the individual competition.
Tomikawa
That sounds like something to really look forward to. I would like to ask Latvala about the Rally2 car, which I was also able to co-drive when it was unveiled to the world. How do you feel about the ride and feel?
Latvala
Firstly, the GR Yaris, which is the base car, is a great production car, and it is very easy to drive. I think it is a very good car.
Similarly, the Rally2 is very nimble and easy to handle. While driving the car today, Morizo and I talked about how easy and natural the handling is.
Tomikawa
The car debuted at Rally Japan. So, that means it has become an even better car in the two months since then?
Morizo
Yes, it is even better now. However, many issues still need to be overcome in competition, but that’s how it is.
That’s how you build a car; you always try to improve the specs. That’s what we’re doing with the latest GR. So, while sharing in this real drama, I hope everyone can feel like they are participating in building cars and developing people.