Jari-Matti Latvala delivered victory for Toyota on only its second event back in the World Rally Championship as he triumphed at Rally Sweden on Sunday, dominating the final three stages on the final day.
Latvala inherited a slender advantage over M-Sport rival Ott Tänak heading into Sunday’s final stages, after Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville broke his steering after a mistake on Saturday’s super special stage.
Latvala, who had been coming under pressure from Tänak on Saturday, stormed clear across Sunday morning’s opening two stages and duly cemented the win by romping to the quickest time on the Power Stage, bagging five bonus points in the process.
“It’s amazing, new team, new car, second rally and we are winning it straight away, I have no words to describe the feeling, I’m so emotional," said Latvala.
Tänak ultimately finished 29.1 seconds behind Latvala, with M-Sport team-mate Sébastien Ogier rounding out the podium positions.
Ogier had entered Sunday in contention for victory but spun at the first corner of the day's opening stage, squandering his prospects with a “stupid mistake.”
Dani Sordo salvaged fourth place for Hyundai after Neuville’s error, while Craig Breen was the highest-placed Citroën driver in fifth position.
Elfyn Evans suffered an early engine glitch but held onto sixth spot, in front of Hayden Paddon, with Stéphane Lefebvre eighth.
Pontus Tidemand claimed honours in WRC2, taking ninth overall in the process, almost a minute clear of Teemu Suninen.
As a result of his victory, Latvala has moved into the lead of the championship on 48 points, with Ogier on 44 and Tänak on 33.
