From wrc.com
It wasn't exactly an easy run to the finish for Finnish driver Jari-Matti Latvala, but the Ford number one kept his head through a tense final morning to claim Rally Sweden victory and get his 2012 FIA World Rally Championship title challenge properly underway.
Latvala came into the leg with a 23-second advantage over Mikko Hirvonen, and quickly extended that to over half a minute as his Citroen rival realised that a set-up change intended to ease tire wear worries actually cost him confidence in the DS3 WRC.
It was just as well Latvala had built that lead, though, as on stage 22 he struck a rock and picked up a right-front puncture, leaving him only eight seconds in front of Hirvonen.
The incident left Latvala kicking himself and anxious to regain his focus, but it didn't take him long to regain control, as he quickly pulled away again - Hirvonen's tires being too worn to let him truly fight - and went on to win by 16.6 seconds and collect a Power Stage bonus point too.
Incredibly both factory Fords suffered tire damage on the same rock on stage 22. While it ultimately didn't cost Latvala any positions, for Petter Solberg the delay was enough to see him lose third place to Mads Ostberg after a rally-long battle. The Adapta Ford driver had been getting ever closer to Solberg even before the incident, though it made his quest rather easier.
Citroen driver Sebastien Loeb retained the championship lead by finishing sixth and winning the Power Stage. After his multiple delays earlier in the weekend, Loeb just had to consolidate his points finish today, with Evgeny Novikov putting on an early charge to make sure there was no chance of the Citroen number one catching him for fifth.
It wasn't exactly an easy run to the finish for Finnish driver Jari-Matti Latvala, but the Ford number one kept his head through a tense final morning to claim Rally Sweden victory and get his 2012 FIA World Rally Championship title challenge properly underway.
Latvala came into the leg with a 23-second advantage over Mikko Hirvonen, and quickly extended that to over half a minute as his Citroen rival realised that a set-up change intended to ease tire wear worries actually cost him confidence in the DS3 WRC.
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| Photo: WRI2 |
It was just as well Latvala had built that lead, though, as on stage 22 he struck a rock and picked up a right-front puncture, leaving him only eight seconds in front of Hirvonen.
The incident left Latvala kicking himself and anxious to regain his focus, but it didn't take him long to regain control, as he quickly pulled away again - Hirvonen's tires being too worn to let him truly fight - and went on to win by 16.6 seconds and collect a Power Stage bonus point too.
Incredibly both factory Fords suffered tire damage on the same rock on stage 22. While it ultimately didn't cost Latvala any positions, for Petter Solberg the delay was enough to see him lose third place to Mads Ostberg after a rally-long battle. The Adapta Ford driver had been getting ever closer to Solberg even before the incident, though it made his quest rather easier.
Citroen driver Sebastien Loeb retained the championship lead by finishing sixth and winning the Power Stage. After his multiple delays earlier in the weekend, Loeb just had to consolidate his points finish today, with Evgeny Novikov putting on an early charge to make sure there was no chance of the Citroen number one catching him for fifth.
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