Kankkunen Celebrates Toyota’s 100th WRC Start with Safari Rally Success
Juha Kankkunen celebrated Toyota’s fifth consecutive Safari Rally victory in Kenya, leading to their 100th WRC start. Kankkunen expressed emotion over the win, comparing it to his past victories. Despite challenges, he praised the team’s performance, particularly Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin, marking a notable moment in WRC history.
Juha Kankkunen recently experienced a significant milestone as Toyota clinched its fifth consecutive Safari Rally victory in Kenya. Serving as the team manager in place of Jari-Matti Latvala, Kankkunen witnessed Elfyn Evans and co-driver Scott Martin secure the top position on Sunday. This celebratory win also marked Toyota’s 100th start in the World Rally Championship (WRC) since re-entering the series in 2017.
Kankkunen, who has triumphed in the challenging Safari Rally three times during the 1980s and 1990s, expressed deep emotion over the team’s success. He stated, “I’m really happy that we managed to win the 100th WRC rally for the team and that I could celebrate another Toyota win on the Safari Rally, 40 years after my first victory here. It really brought tears to my eyes.”
Though the current Safari Rally is shorter than the event Kankkunen raced, it remains a formidable challenge. He admitted to feeling more anxiety in his managerial role than when he was a competitor, saying, “I was a lot more nervous following it than I ever was when I was driving myself.”
Kankkunen commended this particular Safari Rally as the toughest he has observed amongst the modern shorter iterations. He remarked, “There were a lot of things happening all the time, so I was a lot more nervous following it than I ever was when I was driving myself.” He acknowledged some misfortunes on the final day yet emphasized the significance of the victory, stating, “the most important thing is that we managed to win this rally for Toyota once again.” He lauded Evans and Martin for their strong start to the season, declaring, “It was a really good job from Elfyn and Scott.”
In conclusion, Juha Kankkunen’s role in overseeing Toyota’s fifth consecutive Safari Rally victory is a poignant reflection of his legacy in the sport. The win signifies Toyota’s 100th WRC entry and highlights the team’s capability to navigate challenges, both old and new. Kankkunen’s emotions and insights underscore the enduring spirit of competition and the evolution of the Safari Rally itself, affirming the team’s strength under pressure.
Original Source: www.wrc.com
