Tomikawa
The topic of today's talk is "What kind of team is the Finnish team," and I think we have built a general understanding thus far. But the team's structure will change slightly from this year, right? Until last year, the WRT was a part of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Europe (TGR-E), but now a new Finnish company has been established. Haruna, could you please explain?

Haruna
Until last year, the rally team was active as part of TGR-E; however, from this year, we will be racing as the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team Oy (TGR-WRT), a Finnish corporation.

Tomikawa
This is how the project has changed. In the beginning, it was Morizo and Tommi Makinen. What was this setup like in 2015?

Morizo
This was the year Toyota returned to the World Rally Championship after a 17-year absence. Those 17 years were a bigger void than we thought they would be.

Though we had won the championship 17 years prior, we worked with Tommi Makinen taking the lead to explore how much effort we would need to exert to catch up with everyone else.

I believe Latvala was our ace driver at that time. Reaching the winners’ podium in his first race and winning the second in Sweden, he set the pace for the results we see today.

Toyota was also competing in the World Endurance Championship (WEC), so I thought we should work together.

It might be a natural way to think in a normal company, but we all have different backgrounds and compete in different fields, so I thought it would be better to prepare different entities. After all, we all hate to lose.

As we are competing around the world, in order to show the next generation what this current generation is doing and thinking that the environment for building cars and developing human resources would be different between circuit racing and rallying, we decided to set up a separate company in Finland.

Tomikawa
Latvala, as the team principal, what do you feel are the advantages of competing as a WRT for a new company?

Latvala
With the new structure, TGR-E can now focus on the WEC race circuit, and we can focus on the WRC.

With a smaller organization such as this, we will be able to move forward more nimbly and react to things more quickly.

Being able to move fast is really important in motorsports, and I think that leads to winning. The advantage we now have is that we are more flexible, react quicker, and are more nimble.

Tomikawa
Why is the new company based in Finland?

Morizo
My mentor, Hiromu Naruse, often used to say, “The road makes the car.” And I think the roads in Finland are really good natural training courses.

There is no need to build a vast test track, as plenty of roads are available to test on. And, right now, it is -15°C. But in the summer, you are surrounded by greenery, and the roads change their natural faces through the four seasons.

Something I thought was very important was to be able to develop people and cars in such a place.

Another thing is that carbon neutrality is a very big issue also in the world of motorsports right now.

The land we are currently preparing for the company is mostly forest. The amount of CO2 absorbed by the forest, which is 133 times the size of Tokyo Dome*1, will reduce C02 emissions by more than what the team will emit in its 13 races annually.
^{*1 133 Tokyo Domes is approximately 6.2k㎡.}

I would like to share an important message that this team itself will achieve carbon neutrality in its race activities.

Earlier, it was mentioned that this team was smaller, but because it is small, each person has to play multiple roles.

I am the head of a large company, so I might be talking out of turn but… large companies divide by areas of responsibility.

You can’t win at the World Championships using a standard business model. You need to have a system in which each person can go beyond their area of expertise and cooperate with others based on their experience to come up with answers to the various issues that arise each time.

To do that, a certain size is required and I believe the leadership of the parent company creates such an environment.

Tomikawa
All of the data that was just shown on the monitor; Haruna, you put that together, right?

Haruna
Yes, that’s right. I made it and presented it myself. Everyone on the team is working in a versatile manner.

Tomikawa
Latvala, as the team principal, you have various jobs to do. How about as an employee of the company, do you have a job to do?

Morizo
That’s a rather rude way of asking (laughs).

Tomikawa
I mean, “what kind of work are you given?” Maybe that’s a better way of asking.

Latvala
Yes, I am not always playing around (laughs), so I am trying to work sometimes as well.

My first responsibility is to take care of the people and ensure we have a team spirit so that everyone can work cooperatively.

The second is to make sure the drivers are feeling comfortable, relaxed, and happy. When we can see the drivers with smiles on their faces when they are in the car, then they will give their best performance.

And my third major responsibility is media relations. I need to communicate with the media and inform them about how the team is doing and what is going on with the team.

Morizo
His job is not one where he goes into a boss’s office every day at a headquarters somewhere. There are thirteen races a year that ran in many places around the world. With about 80 team members in total, they travel around the world like a circus.

Against such a backdrop, he rushes to the site earlier than anyone else and talks to almost all the 80 staff to ensure they are doing OK.

Another thing he does, which he also did when driving actively, is to return to the pits after the race and interact with the fans. He always signs autographs for the fans.

Everyone sees him doing this and so understands that this team values its fans very much. One of the reasons we have so much support is that people notice Latvala’s dedication and actions. I think that creates a good environment for the team that other teams don’t have.

In the end, though, I am sure he still wants to be a driver himself.

Tomikawa
Even though he is so busy overseeing the team, do you think he really wants to be a driver too?

Morizo
That’s right. But it can’t happen unless he beats me (laughs).

Tomikawa
Not only for getting the car but also to come back as a driver. He does have to beat you.

Morizo
He really has to beat me for that.

Latvala
Firstly, Morizo, thank you very much for the kind words.

And, as Morizo stated, my passion for driving is not going away. Once you are born to be a driver, your passion for driving never goes away.

Of course, I also have to work, but I also want to maintain my passion for driving; it is important.

And this morning, when we had a talk show, some of the TGR drivers said they “wanted to participate in the rally as well,” but I told them, “First, you have to prove that you are a proper rally driver. And to do that, you must beat Morizo!” (laughs)

Tomikawa
So, the standard for everyone is beating Morizo.

Morizo
As for professional sports in Finland, Nordic skiing is one, but motorsports are also immensely popular much like the golden era of Japanese baseball represented by the legends, Sadaharu Oh and Shigeo Nagashima.

People are always watching us and then aim to do what we do. How they interact with the fans and sponsors, and how they contribute to making ever-better cars. I think everything is revealed through their actions.

Haruna
Of course, when Latvala walks through the streets, people will approach and call out to him, but recently, fans have even started to call out to Takamoto, wishing him luck and letting him know they are fans. Motorsports are definitely a major sport in Finland.

I think that connects to creating better team members and ever-better cars.

Morizo
Firstly, the drivers, co-drivers, and cars are the focus.

It is important that we show the world that they are cool and worthy of respect. To do that, we need support and encouragement from everyone.

Although we are competing around the world, Toyota is a Japanese company, and I believe support from Japan gives us tremendous strength.

Tomikawa
In closing, Latvala, please say a few words about what you would like to achieve this season and what you would like everyone to see.

Latvala
Of course, our target is to win the championship title again this year.

It is going to be tougher, competition is harder, but the team is ready for the challenge.

But most importantly, I think through motorsports, we can enjoy passion, and what I wish for all of you, the fans, is that you set your passion free and enjoy that feeling.

Tomikawa
Rally Japan is scheduled to take place in November again this year. I hope all of you will come out and support the team again together with us.