Share

Latvala makes amends in Sweden



Ford's Jari-Matti Latvala overcame a late puncture to win the Rally of Sweden on Sunday and make amends for crashing out of the Monte Carlo season-opener on the first day.


The 26-year-old Finn beat compatriot and former team mate Mikko Hirvonen, now with Citroen, by 16.6sec while eight-times World champion Sebastien Loeb finished a distant sixth.


Loeb, winner in Monte Carlo, saw his hopes vanish when he hit a snow bank on the opening day but the Frenchman retained the championship lead by winning the power stage for three extra points.


Loeb now has 39 points to Hirvonen's 32 and Norwegian Petter Solberg's 29. Latvala has 26.


LATE SCARE


Latvala had to overcome a late scare when he hit an exposed rock and punctured the front right tyre on Stage 22, two from the end, in a setback that slashed his lead from more than half a minute to eight seconds and cranked up the pressure.


"It is amazing. Four years ago I won this rally and now I got it again," Latvala, who was able to reassert himself and rebuild his lead while Hirvonen struggled on worn tyres, told the wrc.com website. The first time I won this rally I became the youngest winner of a World championship rally and beat my hero Henri Toivonen's record.


"It's fantastic to win it again."


POST-MONTE PRESSURE


Solberg, Latvala's 37-year-old team mate, hit the same rock on the same 22nd stage and lost third place to compatriot Mads Ostberg, also in a Ford.


"We got a lot of pressure after Monte and I felt the pressure coming to this event. This has taken a lot of pressure out of the coming events," Latvala said. "I think we're really going to challenge Citroen. We're working very hard."


The victory was Ford's sixth in a row on the snowy Swedish roads, and their cars filled four of the top five places at the ceremonial finish in Karlstad.


Rally of Sweden results at end of Sunday's action:

1 Jari-Matti Latvala-Miikka Anttila (FIN/Ford Fiesta RS) 3h18min28.3
2 Mikko Hirvonen-Jarmo Lehtinen (FIN/Citren DS3) +16.6sec
3 Mads Ostberg- Jonas Andersson (NOR-SWE/Ford) +38.8
4 Petter Solberg-Chris Patterson (NOR-GBR/Ford Fiesta RS) +58.8
5 Evgeny Novikov-Denis Giraudet (RUS-FRA/Ford Fiesta RS) +1min14.3
6 Sbastien Loeb-Daniel Elena (FRA-MON/Citren DS3) +2min55.1
7 Henning Solberg-Ilka Minor (NOR-AUT/Ford) +3min49.5
8 Patrik Sandell-Stffan Parmander (SWE/Mini) +5min08.9
9 Martin Prokop--Zdenek Hruza (CZE/Ford Fiesta RS) +5min30.0
10 Eyvind Brynildsen-Cato Menkerud (NOR/Ford Fiesta) +6min27.2
11 Sbastien Ogier-Julien Ingrassia (FRA/Skoda Fabia) +7min35.0

Special Stage winners: Sordo 1 (SS1), Latvala 9 (SS2,8,11,12,15,16,19,20,23), Ostberg 3 (SS2,21,22), Loeb 4 (SS3,6,18,24), Hirvonen 5 (SS4,5,7,13,17), P Solberg 2 (SS9,10), Tanak 2 (SS14,18).

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()