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Volkswagen's Latvala rules out switch to new Toyota WRC programme

Jari-Matti Latvala says he has no intention of departing Volkswagen for Toyota, despite speculation linking him to the Japanese giant's World Rally Championship return

Toyota is back next season after an absence of nearly two decades, and Latvala was believed to have been in talks with team principal Tommi Makinen.

Latvala insists any discussions with the four-time world champion were purely social.

He will remain with the VW team until the end of 2018.

"At the moment, my plans are with Volkswagen," Latvala told Autosport.

"It's great that Toyota is coming back to the championship, but for 2016, '17 and '18, I'm not thinking of or considering Toyota.

"When you have the championship-winning car, it would always be very, very risky to jump out from that boat."

WRC PREVIEW: The plan to topple Ogier in 2016

Latvala's immediate focus will be on halting the dominant run of rally wins and titles his team-mate Sebastien Ogier is enjoying.

The 30-year-old insists he has a plan to take the Frenchman on.

"In the first half of the season I have never been so successful," Latvala said.

"I have usually had to wait for the second half of the year for the rallies where I go well.

"So now I have to play the tactics. And the tactics are to not try to be winning every rally, sometimes I have to take the podium and wait for the second half where I am more suited."

Follow the Monte Carlo Rally as it happens with Autosport Race Centre Live from 7pm UK time on Thursday

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