34-year old Finnish driver, Jari-Matti Latvala, has been rallying full time for half his life and already he is the World Rally Championship’s most experienced driver.
At this year’s Rally Argentina he will celebrate his 200th WRC start, an all-time record for a driver, though this landmark does not yet match the record of his co-driver, Miikka Anttila. What a partnership and what a story of mutual respect!
JML: “We have been working together since 2003. Miikka is very calm and he doesn't get frustrated, although sometimes I do. Both of us like to avoid conflicts, so that's why it works well. We don't get angry.
"There is occasionally some situation like in Mexico when we had a problem on the final day when the radiator was leaking. I got a bit upset and we had a small disagreement. Yes, this happens and is normal, but let’s say it's easy relationship when we work together.
"I have seen more frustration on Miikka's side when things don't go right, more than I saw when we were younger in the way it is good. I am sure he wants to achieve the same as me, to have the chance to fight for the World Rally Championship title”.
Jari-Matti has noticed huge changes in his 17 years in rallying.
“Nowadays WRC life is more hectic. There is a lot more promotional stuff, there is not so much freedom anymore.
"Since the moment we arrive at rallies it is full attack until the end of the rally, all the time. There are no gaps anymore. It used to be a bit more relaxed on Thursday, but nowadays even Thursdays are full of activities.
"And between the rallies it is more important to relax and save energy when you are at home and do some training.
"What I must say is that what we've seen over the years is that we have fewer breaks during rallies for service. Now you work a lot more with your co-driver on the car. It is much more important that we have the knowledge what you can do to make repairs, like in Mexico when we repaired our radiator.
"You have to be able to finish the rally even if you have the problem.
"Rallying itself has been on the ascendancy since 2017, but we had years when the business was down. It was not so exciting when we had only two big teams in the championship.
"I must say this All Live TV programme is the biggest change that I have seen over the years. To have so much visibility with the driver is really great, that is the biggest change I have seen.”
Looking back at his career, Jari-Matti has been active in a wide variety of cars. He started in a front engined, rear-drive Toyota Corolla 1600 GT, then a front-wheel drive Renault Clio RS.
Which type of car does he feel has been the best preparation for the top level of rallying?
“Well, many drivers nowadays go first with the front-wheel drive cars like R2. When I started to drive I did only one or two seasons with front-wheel drive car in the Finnish Junior rally championship.
"Then in 2002 I drove the Group N Mitsubishi in the UK. In '03 I drove the World Rally Car for the first time, but I couldn't really take in everything. It was fascinating to drive, but I didn't understand things.
"I must say the car which helped me improve the most over the years was back in 2005 when I was running our private Corolla WRC. That was probably the car in which I learned most. It was an easy car to drive and helped me think about the braking points, the speed and everything.
"Also, I must say that in the Group N cars I learned to be very careful with the standard brakes so you didn't burn your brakes, not do left-foot braking too much to save the brakes.”
Are there any rallying experiences you would never like to repeat?
“Portugal '09 for a start, when our car went rolling down the hillside. That was a massive, massive accident, it was not nice.
"I closed my eyes when I saw the roll cage starting to collapse and I got really scared. I thought we were going to die inside the car.
"But on the other hand what was crazy was when the accident stopped I realised how strong the cars are and that we came out unhurt. This was a positive thing.
"But there was nothing good about my last-stage crash in Poland '09. That was the most stupid thing that I have done in my career. Then there was my mistake on the 2014 Rallye Deutschland when I went through the vineyards when we had a one minute lead."
How does Jari-Matti feel about being part of the new Toyota team that started with all Finnish drivers?
“That was quite special for us, that we were able to communicate completely in Finnish with the engineers and people like that.
"Normally teams communicate always in English. For sure the team had a lot of people from foreign countries as well, but the base was in Finland. Finns have always been passionate for rallying, there's always been interest.
"We've never really had so many people working in rallying, so this also gave a possibility to bring people in and start mechanical education at the schools because you have something where you can go.
"Although nowadays the base and the R&D development is still in Finland at Puupola, the car build ups are done in Estonia.”
Do you wish to have more experience with other teams? You have rallied for M-Sport (Ford), VW and now Toyota, but not for either Hyundai or Citroen.
“If I am very honest, not really, no. I have said now I am in Toyota I want to stay in Toyota as long as I have a chance. This was a team I have always admired and I always wanted to get in this sort of team.”
Jari-Matti has interests outside of actual driving. Like Mikko Hirvonen, he loves old car rallying and he has a museum.
“Our museum is one thing I really love, and this is what I want to develop. I've now made an extension for the museum so I have more space for the cars. Now there is also a workshop where we can build the cars.
"There are also my trophies for people to see. Then there is also a meeting room and then also three rooms and there is a sauna.
"My mother has done a lot for it and this is what I want to do after my rally driving career. I'm interested in building old rally cars.
"So at the moment we are building the Marcus Gronholm 1992 Rally 1000 Lakes Celica ST185. For me cars don’t have to be very old, but the Group A cars from the '90s are very fascinating.
"For the moment I would still like to be in the rally driving game. I would like to see the hybrids and things like that arriving, but it depends on many other things - how long Toyota will be in the championship, do I get the contract and things like that.
"And I still haven't won the Drivers' championship title. The thought of that keeps me going.”
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Jari-Matti has noticed huge changes in his 17 years in rallying.
“Nowadays WRC life is more hectic. There is a lot more promotional stuff, there is not so much freedom anymore.
"Since the moment we arrive at rallies it is full attack until the end of the rally, all the time. There are no gaps anymore. It used to be a bit more relaxed on Thursday, but nowadays even Thursdays are full of activities.
"And between the rallies it is more important to relax and save energy when you are at home and do some training.
"What I must say is that what we've seen over the years is that we have fewer breaks during rallies for service. Now you work a lot more with your co-driver on the car. It is much more important that we have the knowledge what you can do to make repairs, like in Mexico when we repaired our radiator.
"You have to be able to finish the rally even if you have the problem.
"Rallying itself has been on the ascendancy since 2017, but we had years when the business was down. It was not so exciting when we had only two big teams in the championship.
"I must say this All Live TV programme is the biggest change that I have seen over the years. To have so much visibility with the driver is really great, that is the biggest change I have seen.”
Looking back at his career, Jari-Matti has been active in a wide variety of cars. He started in a front engined, rear-drive Toyota Corolla 1600 GT, then a front-wheel drive Renault Clio RS.
Which type of car does he feel has been the best preparation for the top level of rallying?
“Well, many drivers nowadays go first with the front-wheel drive cars like R2. When I started to drive I did only one or two seasons with front-wheel drive car in the Finnish Junior rally championship.
"Then in 2002 I drove the Group N Mitsubishi in the UK. In '03 I drove the World Rally Car for the first time, but I couldn't really take in everything. It was fascinating to drive, but I didn't understand things.
"I must say the car which helped me improve the most over the years was back in 2005 when I was running our private Corolla WRC. That was probably the car in which I learned most. It was an easy car to drive and helped me think about the braking points, the speed and everything.
"Also, I must say that in the Group N cars I learned to be very careful with the standard brakes so you didn't burn your brakes, not do left-foot braking too much to save the brakes.”
Are there any rallying experiences you would never like to repeat?
“Portugal '09 for a start, when our car went rolling down the hillside. That was a massive, massive accident, it was not nice.
"I closed my eyes when I saw the roll cage starting to collapse and I got really scared. I thought we were going to die inside the car.
"But on the other hand what was crazy was when the accident stopped I realised how strong the cars are and that we came out unhurt. This was a positive thing.
"But there was nothing good about my last-stage crash in Poland '09. That was the most stupid thing that I have done in my career. Then there was my mistake on the 2014 Rallye Deutschland when I went through the vineyards when we had a one minute lead."
How does Jari-Matti feel about being part of the new Toyota team that started with all Finnish drivers?
“That was quite special for us, that we were able to communicate completely in Finnish with the engineers and people like that.
"Normally teams communicate always in English. For sure the team had a lot of people from foreign countries as well, but the base was in Finland. Finns have always been passionate for rallying, there's always been interest.
"We've never really had so many people working in rallying, so this also gave a possibility to bring people in and start mechanical education at the schools because you have something where you can go.
"Although nowadays the base and the R&D development is still in Finland at Puupola, the car build ups are done in Estonia.”
Do you wish to have more experience with other teams? You have rallied for M-Sport (Ford), VW and now Toyota, but not for either Hyundai or Citroen.
“If I am very honest, not really, no. I have said now I am in Toyota I want to stay in Toyota as long as I have a chance. This was a team I have always admired and I always wanted to get in this sort of team.”
Jari-Matti has interests outside of actual driving. Like Mikko Hirvonen, he loves old car rallying and he has a museum.
“Our museum is one thing I really love, and this is what I want to develop. I've now made an extension for the museum so I have more space for the cars. Now there is also a workshop where we can build the cars.
"There are also my trophies for people to see. Then there is also a meeting room and then also three rooms and there is a sauna.
"My mother has done a lot for it and this is what I want to do after my rally driving career. I'm interested in building old rally cars.
"So at the moment we are building the Marcus Gronholm 1992 Rally 1000 Lakes Celica ST185. For me cars don’t have to be very old, but the Group A cars from the '90s are very fascinating.
"For the moment I would still like to be in the rally driving game. I would like to see the hybrids and things like that arriving, but it depends on many other things - how long Toyota will be in the championship, do I get the contract and things like that.
"And I still haven't won the Drivers' championship title. The thought of that keeps me going.”
