Volkswagen refugee Jari-Matti Latvala will spearhead Toyota’s return to the WRC after signing a deal with the Japanese manufacturer.
Latvala has taken 16 wins across a decade-long career in the sport’s top echelon, and finished runner-up in the standings in 2010, 2014 and 2015.
Latvala lost his drive when Volkswagen withdrew from the championship but will now link up with Juho Hanninen to pilot the Yaris.
“I started my rally career in a Toyota Corolla GT back in 2001 and my first competitive outing in a World Rally Car was behind the wheel of a Corolla WRC in 2003 in Estonia,” he said.
“So in many ways, it feels like I’m coming home! I’m really happy to join Toyota from the very start and lead this new adventure with them.
“I feel lucky to be part of this story and I hope we will amass a lot of victories in it.”
Toyota has not competed as a full-scale manufacturer in the WRC since 1999.
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