Jari-Matti Latvala has never been just a driver. He’s been a force of nature, a symbol of everything raw and thrilling about rallying. Since the exciting news was announced on DirtFish about his 2025 plans, we’ve been thrilled.
His story is full of passion, resilience, and a love for the sport that runs deeper than winning titles. And now, in 2025, he’s decided it’s time to recapture a bit of that joy he found behind the wheel, even as he continues to guide Toyota GAZOO Racing.
After taking over as Toyota’s team principal in 2021, Jari-Matti led his team to one of their most successful periods. But while he found satisfaction in nurturing young talent and watching his team dominate the championship, there’s a part of him that has always yearned for the adrenaline rush of rallying’s twists, turns, and dirt-sprayed intensity. So, as he heads into 2025, Latvala is doing what only he could: balancing his role as team leader with a full-time campaign in the FIA European Historic Rally Championship (EHRC).
“For sure, I will be in Monte Carlo and Sweden [as team principal],” he shared with a hint of that familiar excitement. “After that, we are looking at [the calendar].” His words capture a man caught between two loves—one that’s grown with him as he became a leader, and another that takes him back to why he fell in love with rallying in the first place.
A storied career, built on passion
Latvala has never been just a statistic in rallying. Since his debut at just 17 years old, he has fought for every inch of his success in the WRC. Known for his fearless driving and candid personality, he’s someone who wears his heart on his sleeve, openly sharing the highs and lows of his career. His record of 18 WRC wins is a testament not just to his skill, but to his relentless determination and love for the sport.
His transition from driver to team principal was bittersweet—a decision born from the reality of his winless 2020 season. “It wasn’t the job I wanted. Team principal’s nice, but World Rally Championship driver is better,” he once admitted. And yet, in the years that followed, he embraced this new chapter wholeheartedly, guiding Toyota with the same passion he once brought to the stages.
Still, the drive to compete has never left him. Taking on the EHRC isn’t just a side project; it’s a way for Latvala to keep that fire alive, to be part of the sport in the way he truly loves—driving. This time, he’s doing it on his own terms, honoring the rally cars and history that shaped his journey.
Rediscovering the roots of rallying with the European Historic Rally Championship
The FIA EHRC might not come with the glamour and fanfare of the WRC, but to Jari-Matti, it offers something even more special: a connection to the heritage of rallying. The EHRC is a celebration of the sport’s purest forms, bringing classic cars back to life on stages that demand respect and skill. For Latvala, it’s a return to what made him fall in love with rallying—its simplicity, its grit, and its heart.
At 39, Latvala is embracing this new challenge not with the pressure of podium finishes, but with the joy of being behind the wheel again, reliving the rally stages as they were in the ‘90s. Historic rallying is more than nostalgia; it’s a place where he can let his driving do the talking, free from the pressures of the modern WRC.
“This championship is going to be something special for me,” he reflected. “These are the cars I grew up watching, the ones that made me believe rallying was magic. Getting behind the wheel again, in these machines—it’s just joy, pure and simple.”
The Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD ST185
In choosing his rally car, Latvala turned to a legend—the Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD ST185, a car that dominated the WRC in the early ‘90s.
“It’s good news,” he said, reflecting on the FIA’s decision to allow cars from this era into historic rallies. “The ’90s were a special time for rallying, and these cars have been kept a little bit on the side. There’s a lot of fans, like me, who want to see them in action again.”
Latvala has poured himself into restoring his Celica, ensuring it’s in peak condition for the EHRC stages. He’s doing this not for the accolades, but for the sheer love of seeing, hearing, and feeling this car on the rally stages. The ST185 isn’t just a car; it’s a time capsule, and in many ways, it embodies Jari-Matti’s journey—from the kid who dreamed of rallying to the man who now has the chance to celebrate its history while leading its future.
As he prepares for 2025, Jari-Matti Latvala stands at a unique crossroads, balancing his role as Toyota’s team principal with a personal journey back into the heart of rallying’s past. He’s a driver, a leader, and above all, a lover of the sport, eager to experience the magic of rallying once more—not just as a competitor, but as a true fan.
