Ford’s Jari-Matti Latvala edged out defending champion and championship leader Sebastien Loeb to victory in the Wales Rally of Great Britain, his second consecutive win at this event and second of the season. Latvala’s team-mate and former champion Petter Solberg finished third.
Latvala’s return to form after dazzling the WRC field in April at Rally Sweden marks the end of a string of bad luck and mistakes for the Finn (and the end of five consecutive victories for Loeb), but might have come a bit too late as Loeb seems certain to take a ninth WRC title. But if dominant displays such as this weekend’s drive in the slippery mud of the Welsh forests continue for Latvala, he might be able to finish as runner-up.
“This is a fantastic feeling. It’s one of my favourite rallies. I won it last year and it feels amazing to win again after such a big battle. To be honest this victory is for the team. They have done so much work on the car and it was working so well on this rally,” Latvala said.
The Ford team were set for a maximum points haul, but not if Loeb and co-driver Daniel Elene had anything to say about it. The Frenchman was just behind Solberg going into the final stage and hammered down the gavel to put his Citroen DS3 nine tenths ahead of Solberg’s Ford Fiesta and snatched up second overall.
“I would liked to have beaten him but I lost too much time in the morning. I’m very happy for Ford but first and third should have been first and second,” Solberg admitted afterward.
Solberg’s compatriot Mads Østberg finished fourth for the Adapta World Rally Team, with Loeb’s team-mate Mikko Hirvonen rounding off the top five. As it stands, only Hirvonen is in any position to challenge Loeb for the title, but the Finn also has to contend with the pace of the three Fiestas on his heels.
The championship now heads to the European mainland for Rallye de France, which happens to take place in Loeb’s home region of Alsace – so expect the champion to put on a fantastic display. Rally de France happens from 4-7 October.
Standings
Driver’s championship
1. Sebastien Loeb –-219 points
2. Mikko Hirvonen – 158
3. Petter Solberg – 119
4. Mads Østberg – 114
5. Jari-Matti Latvala – 113
6. Evgeny Novikov – 63
7. Martin Prokop – 40
8. Thierry Neuville – 38
Manufacturer’s championship
1. Citroen Total World Rally Team – 348 points
2. Ford World Rally Team – 237
3. M-Sport Ford World Rally Team – 123
4. Qatar World Rally Team – 63
5. Adapta World Rally Team – 61
