From wrc.com
Jari-Matti Latvala has described his victory on Rally New Zealand as “unbelievable” after he edged out Sebastien Ogier for first place by just 2.4 seconds in what equalled the third closest finish to a world championship rally.
The BP Ford driver and his co-driver Miikka Anttila started the final Whaanga Coast stage 6.2 seconds behind Ogier.
But when Ogier spun and stalled his Citroen C4 three corners from the end of the last test, Latvala was able to secure his first win since Rally d’Italia-Sardegna almost 12 months ago.
The dramatic last stage provided another twist to the final day in New Zealand after Sebastien Loeb had crept into the lead following the opening Te Hutewai stage only to crash into a tree on the very next stage.
The delay cost him almost 50 seconds and with it any chance of his fourth win of the campaign after his epic recovery drive from seventh place.
Ogier’s second place might not have been the reward he deserved following an exemplary display on his first Rally New Zealand although he received plenty of plaudits over the course of the weekend after he equalled his best WRC finish thus far.
Loeb’s eventual third place keeps the six-time world champion at the top of the drivers’ standings although his lead has been trimmed from 40 to 36 points over new second-place Latvala.
Petter Solberg, who had been second in the points prior to the start of the rally, was in third when he crashed heavily on the final stage, taking out an electricity pylon in the process. Fortunately both Solberg and co-driver Phil Mills were uninjured.
It was a case of what might have been for Ford team leader Mikko Hirvonen, who could only manage fourth overall following a frustrating showing.
Behind fifth-placed Dani Sordo, Matthew Wilson completed the top six in his Focus with Stobart M-Sport team-mate Henning Solberg seventh. Argentine Federico Villagra was the last of the World Rally Car finishers in ninth overall.
Results of the Rally New Zealand
1. Jari-Matti Latvala Ford 4h04m09.8s
2. Sebastien Ogier Citroen + 2.4s
3. Sebastien Loeb Citroen + 15.2s
4. Mikko Hirvonen Ford + 21.3s
5. Dani Sordo Citroen + 25.8s
6. Matthew Wilson Ford + 3m26.0s
7. Henning Solberg Ford + 6m15.3s
8. Jari Ketomaa Ford + 10m19.3s
9. Federico Villagra Ford + 10m49.8s
10. Xevi Pons Ford + 11m13.4s
Championship positions
1. Sebastien Loeb, 108 points
2. Jari-Mari Latvala, 72
3. Mikko Hirvonen, 64
4. Sebastien Ogier, 63
5. Petter Solberg, 53
Jari-Matti Latvala has described his victory on Rally New Zealand as “unbelievable” after he edged out Sebastien Ogier for first place by just 2.4 seconds in what equalled the third closest finish to a world championship rally.
The BP Ford driver and his co-driver Miikka Anttila started the final Whaanga Coast stage 6.2 seconds behind Ogier.
But when Ogier spun and stalled his Citroen C4 three corners from the end of the last test, Latvala was able to secure his first win since Rally d’Italia-Sardegna almost 12 months ago.
The dramatic last stage provided another twist to the final day in New Zealand after Sebastien Loeb had crept into the lead following the opening Te Hutewai stage only to crash into a tree on the very next stage.
The delay cost him almost 50 seconds and with it any chance of his fourth win of the campaign after his epic recovery drive from seventh place.
Ogier’s second place might not have been the reward he deserved following an exemplary display on his first Rally New Zealand although he received plenty of plaudits over the course of the weekend after he equalled his best WRC finish thus far.
Loeb’s eventual third place keeps the six-time world champion at the top of the drivers’ standings although his lead has been trimmed from 40 to 36 points over new second-place Latvala.
Petter Solberg, who had been second in the points prior to the start of the rally, was in third when he crashed heavily on the final stage, taking out an electricity pylon in the process. Fortunately both Solberg and co-driver Phil Mills were uninjured.
It was a case of what might have been for Ford team leader Mikko Hirvonen, who could only manage fourth overall following a frustrating showing.
Behind fifth-placed Dani Sordo, Matthew Wilson completed the top six in his Focus with Stobart M-Sport team-mate Henning Solberg seventh. Argentine Federico Villagra was the last of the World Rally Car finishers in ninth overall.
Results of the Rally New Zealand
1. Jari-Matti Latvala Ford 4h04m09.8s
2. Sebastien Ogier Citroen + 2.4s
3. Sebastien Loeb Citroen + 15.2s
4. Mikko Hirvonen Ford + 21.3s
5. Dani Sordo Citroen + 25.8s
6. Matthew Wilson Ford + 3m26.0s
7. Henning Solberg Ford + 6m15.3s
8. Jari Ketomaa Ford + 10m19.3s
9. Federico Villagra Ford + 10m49.8s
10. Xevi Pons Ford + 11m13.4s
Championship positions
1. Sebastien Loeb, 108 points
2. Jari-Mari Latvala, 72
3. Mikko Hirvonen, 64
4. Sebastien Ogier, 63
5. Petter Solberg, 53