Kankkunen Celebrates Toyota’s Historic Win at Safari Rally in Kenya

Kankkunen stepped in for Latvala as Toyota secured its fifth consecutive Safari Rally win in Kenya, marking the team’s 100th WRC start since 2017. Kankkunen, a former Safari winner, expressed heartfelt emotions over the victory, citing the event’s immense challenges. Despite nerves and some misfortune, he praised the team’s strong performance.

Juhani Kankkunen, a former Finnish rally champion, played a significant role in Toyota’s remarkable success at the Safari Rally in Kenya, stepping in for driver Jari-Matti Latvala. This victory secured Toyota’s fifth consecutive Safari win, with Elfyn Evans and co-driver Scott Martin clinching the top podium position. Notably, the win also commemorated Toyota’s 100th appearance in the World Rally Championship (WRC) since their return to the series in 2017.

Reflecting on the achievement, Kankkunen expressed his emotions, stating, “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.” His past experience, having won the Safari Rally three times, added to the significance of this triumph.

Despite the Safari’s modern format being shorter, Kankkunen noted it still posed a considerable challenge, even from the service park. He admitted, “I was a lot more nervous following it than I ever was when I was driving myself.” Kankkunen went on to describe this year’s event as the most demanding he had witnessed, attributing this to the numerous incidents that occurred throughout the rally.

While there were moments of misfortune compared to previous years, Kankkunen emphasized the importance of the victory: “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.” This sentiment underscores the team’s strong performance and dedication moving forward into the ongoing championship season.

In summary, Juhani Kankkunen’s involvement in Toyota’s fifth consecutive Safari Rally victory highlights both a personal and corporate milestone. Celebrating the 100th WRC start for Toyota, Kankkunen’s emotional reflections and insights into the challenges of the modern rally add depth to the achievement. The team’s resilience and skill, as demonstrated by Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin, set a promising tone for future competitions.

Original Source: www.wrc.com