Volkswagen has signed Jari-Matti Latvala to drive the new Polo R alongside Sébastien Ogier from the 2013 WRC season.
Latvala’s switch to Volkswagen was more than expected after Ford announced the end of his official WRC works program at the end of 2012. The official statement has been released by Volkswagen on Wednesday morning.
27-year-old Jari-Matti Latvala leaves Ford team after five years of collaboration. The Finn collected seven WRC wins so far, and concluded the 2010 season in second position.
"We’re proud and highly pleased to have gained Jari-Matti Latvala for our World Rally Championship project. He’s one of the most distinguished WRC drivers in the field and has experience, aggressiveness and exceptional speed. I’ve known Jari-Matti since his early days in rallying and have been watching his development very closely. He’s a true reinforcement for our team," says Volkswagen Motorsport Director Jost Capito. "The fact that another top-flight driver believes in our success and is switching to our team gives each member of our team an additional motivation boost. In Sébastien Ogier and Jari-Matti Latvala we’ve got an excellent driver line-up for the debut of the Polo R WRC in the 2013 World Rally Championship."
"I’m very happy to be driving the Polo R WRC in the World Rally Championship in future," Latvala said. "The determined approach of the Volkswagen team convinced me to accept this challenge,” says Latvala. "The time at Ford was very valuable for me and I would like to thank everyone who supported me there in the past years – it wasn’t easy for me to say goodbye. At the same time, I see the change as a personal new beginning. I’ve taken this decision in order to make another step towards reaching my big aim: the world champion’s title with Volkswagen."
Latvala’s switch to Volkswagen was more than expected after Ford announced the end of his official WRC works program at the end of 2012. The official statement has been released by Volkswagen on Wednesday morning.
27-year-old Jari-Matti Latvala leaves Ford team after five years of collaboration. The Finn collected seven WRC wins so far, and concluded the 2010 season in second position.
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| Jari-Matti Latvala. (Photo: WRC) |
"We’re proud and highly pleased to have gained Jari-Matti Latvala for our World Rally Championship project. He’s one of the most distinguished WRC drivers in the field and has experience, aggressiveness and exceptional speed. I’ve known Jari-Matti since his early days in rallying and have been watching his development very closely. He’s a true reinforcement for our team," says Volkswagen Motorsport Director Jost Capito. "The fact that another top-flight driver believes in our success and is switching to our team gives each member of our team an additional motivation boost. In Sébastien Ogier and Jari-Matti Latvala we’ve got an excellent driver line-up for the debut of the Polo R WRC in the 2013 World Rally Championship."
"I’m very happy to be driving the Polo R WRC in the World Rally Championship in future," Latvala said. "The determined approach of the Volkswagen team convinced me to accept this challenge,” says Latvala. "The time at Ford was very valuable for me and I would like to thank everyone who supported me there in the past years – it wasn’t easy for me to say goodbye. At the same time, I see the change as a personal new beginning. I’ve taken this decision in order to make another step towards reaching my big aim: the world champion’s title with Volkswagen."