Jari-Matti Latvala successfully defended his title by dominating the Costa Brava rally, the opening round of the Historic rally European Championship season. He finished with a commanding lead of four and a half minutes over the second place competitor, Italy’s Angelo Lombardo. Latvala demonstrated his prowess by setting the fastest times in nearly all of the rally's 13 special stages, showcasing consistent high performance throughout the event.

The victory was particularly sweet for Latvala and Hussi, who celebrated exuberantly on the podium, spraying champagne and reveling in their success. Last year, Latvala emerged as the champion in the Historic series, although Hussi was not crowned champion this year due to insufficient participation in the series. This win highlights Latvala’s skills and reinforces his standing in historic rallying, setting a high bar for the upcoming competitions this season.

Outside of the Historic events, Latvala continues his role this year as the team principal for Toyota’s World Rally Championship team. Meanwhile, Hussi has embarked on a slightly different path, navigating for Teemu Suninen in selected World Rally events and also contributing to Takamoto Katsuta’s efforts. The differing trajectories of Latvala and Hussi demonstrate the diverse opportunities and responsibilities within the rallying landscape, especially following a successful season start.