The 2024 World Rally Championship season continues this weekend with round eight Tet Rally Latvia. Find out all you need to know below.
Championship Rundown
Thierry Neuville still holds the championship lead, something he has held since Monte Carlo. However, this weekend Neuville is under pressure more than ever as Elfyn Evans sits just 15 points behind. Ott Tänak sits 21 points behind Neuville and 6 behind Evans. Sebastien Ogier is fourth in the championship, 23 points behind Tänak. Fellow Frenchman Adrien Fourmuax rounds out the top five in the championship, sitting just a single point behind Ogier.
Team Rundowns
Toyota Gazoo Racing
Toyota will fleet a four-car lineup for Rally Latvia this weekend. With Elfyn Evans, Kalle Rovanperä and Sebastien Ogier being nominated to score manufacturers’ points. While Takamoto Katsuta is not. Rovanperä will be looking for his third win of the season. While Ogier will look to bounce back after missing Rally Poland due to an accident before the event. Elfyn Evans will look to kickstart his disappointing season in Latvia. Overall Toyota is setting itself up to give Hyundai a run for its money.
Hyundai Shell Mobis
Hyundai will run the standard three-car lineup. Featuring Thierry Neuville and Ott Tänak alongside Esapekka Lappi. Neuville will be looking to hold onto the championship lead. While also making up for a rather disappointing showing in Poland last time out. While Tänak will be looking to just do any bit of the event at this point. As a deer ended his event early in Poland. Then in his home event of Rally Estonia in the ERC, he rolled his i20 completely destroying the car. Lappi will contest just his third event this season. The Finnish driver already has one win under his belt this season, that being way back in Sweden.
M-Sport Ford
M-Sport will run a three-car lineup for the second consecutive event. As Adrien Fourmaux and Grégoire Munster will once again be joined by Martins Sesks. Who this time around will be driving a full-flight Rally1 car. Sesks made the most of their debut last time out in Poland. Finishing top five on a handful of stages. Fourmaux will likely be looking to finish on the podium once again this weekend. As he finished third in Poland earlier this month. Munster will continue the usual of learning the event and the car. Not much to expect there.