Toyota team principal Jari-Matti Latvala believes events like the Monza Rally Show would enhance the World Rally Championship (WRC) calendar
The World Rally Championship (WRC) could benefit from more events in the style of the Monza Rally Show, according to Toyota team principal Jari-Matti Latvala. The event on and around the Formula One circuit just outside Milan was revived this year, and all three WRC manufacturers sent Rally1 cars to Monza – in the case of Toyota, with team principal Latvala himself as a driver.
“I really enjoyed it. It was nice to drive and here in Italy, with so many fans, it was a great experience,” said Latvala. ”I think we could incorporate something like this into the championship. Not all events have to be the same. Some could be designed as shorter sprint or show events, like here in Monza.”
“If we have 13 or 14 rallies on the calendar, two or three of them could be short, two-day events like this, which are competitive but also entertaining,” said the Finn. ”That would be a good addition to the championship.”
New world champion Thierry Neuville also enjoyed his appearance in Monza. “It’s fun. I’ve been to Monza many times and it’s a good event,”
Neuville says, “but I don’t know if the WRC needs more events like this. It’s nice to have something like this at the end or maybe at the beginning of the season, but overall I would say that we need to focus on other things first.”
The Monza Rally was held for the first time in 1978 and has a history of attracting prominent drivers from other motorsport categories. MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi holds the record with seven victories. In addition to the Grand Prix circuit and roads in and around the Royal Park, the old steep turns of the race track are also used for the special stages.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, the Monza Rally will be held as the season finale of the World Rally Championship. Both times, Sebastien Ogier won.