Toyota Gazoo Racing boss Jari-Matti Latvala believes Sébastien Ogier’s rally-winning performance in Italy last weekend was head and shoulders above that in Portugal two weeks previously. As championship leader, Ogier was handicapped by opening the roads at both Vodafone Rally de Portugal and Rally Italia Sardegna. “Seb was a different level than in Portugal opening the road,” said team principal Latvala. “He was fastest from first car on the road in shakedown in the very first run and I said to him ‘if you can make that speed, you can win the rally’. Ogier was encouraged by geometry and suspension improvements to his car between Portugal and Italy and Elfyn Evans secured a 1-2 for Toyota after starting just one place behind him.

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