Kankkunen’s Full-Circle Moment as Toyota Triumphs in Kenya

Juha Kankkunen, stepping in for Jari-Matti Latvala, led Toyota to its fifth consecutive Safari Rally victory in Kenya, celebrating the team’s 100th WRC start since 2017. Kankkunen, a former three-time winner of the event, reflected on the emotional significance of the win and praised the current drivers’ performance amidst the rally’s challenges.

Juha Kankkunen played a pivotal role in overseeing Toyota’s fifth consecutive triumph at the Safari Rally in Kenya, stepping in for Jari-Matti Latvala. Elfyn Evans, along with co-driver Scott Martin, secured the victory on Sunday, marking a significant milestone as Toyota celebrated its 100th rally start since re-entering the World Rally Championship (WRC) in 2017.

Kankkunen, an accomplished driver with three previous Safari Rally victories in the 1980s and 1990s, expressed his deep emotional connection to this achievement. “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,” he stated, illustrating the personal significance of the event.

Although the current Safari Rally is shorter than the ones Kankkunen experienced, it presented formidable challenges, particularly for those monitoring the race. He remarked, “Among the modern day, shorter Safari rallies, this was absolutely the toughest one I have seen. 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.”

Kankkunen acknowledged some misfortunes on the final day but remained proud of the team’s overall performance. He noted, “We were maybe a little bit unlucky compared to previous years, especially on this final day, but the most important thing is that we managed to win this rally for Toyota once again. It was a really good job from Elfyn and Scott, who have made a fantastic start to the season.”

Juha Kankkunen’s emotional return to the Safari Rally with Toyota marked a significant victory, not only commemorating the team’s 100th WRC start but also recalling Kankkunen’s own historic wins. Despite the challenges of the shorter format, Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin demonstrated exceptional skill to claim the podium. This latest success underscores Toyota’s dominance in the series and Kankkunen’s lasting legacy within the sport.

Original Source: www.wrc.com