Hyundai, M-Sport and Toyota remain the sport’s big players in 2024 but tweaks have been made to their respective driver line-ups and there have also been changes in WRC2, as Graham Lister explains.
TOYOTA GAZOO RACING WRT
Boss: Jari-Matti Latvala
Base: Finland
Car: Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid
2023 record: First in the manufacturers’ championship with nine wins
New for 2024: World champion Kalle Rovanpera joins Sebastien Ogier as a part-time player. Team will also be represented in WRC2 with its all-new and potentially dominant GR Yaris Rally2
Strengths: A winning mentality, financial backing in abundance, first-class technical team led by Brit Tom Fowler
Weaknesses: With Rovanpera going part time and Ogier not always in action, the onus is on one driver, Elfyn Evans, to deliver consistently. Although the Welshman is more than capable, it’s a big responsibility.
#17: Sebastien Ogier (FRA)/ Vincent Landais (FRA)
As much as it would be the best news of all, Sebastien Ogier is almost certainly never going to return for a full season in the World Rally Championship. It’s therefore vital to savour what this phenomenal talent brings to the WRC whenever he brings it. Once again Toyota won’t say which rallies the eight-time champion will tackle in 2024. But having won three times in 2023 and threatened to on at least two more occasions, Ogier, who
