Points and fact from the mountain air of Mexico

Sixth position­­­ and two extra points from the Powerstage were something that left Jari-Matti Latvala happy after Rally Mexico. The first touch with the thin mountain air with Toyota Yaris WRC was as tough as it was expected. The biggest problems were the overheating of the engine and the brakes. The competition started with the super special stage driven in Mexico City. The visit to capital city of the country lasted almost one day and the special stages number two and three were cancelled when the cars’ return to Leon delayed. The cars got stuck on a highway due to a traffic accident.

“Super special stage in Mexico City was great but when the competition day lasted 18 hours, it was too much”, Latvala said.

Latvala’s problems started right at the start of the first competition day.
“The first stage of Friday’s leg was driven 15 kilometers when the engine oveheated. We were forced to put the engine to transition mode and start cooling the engine. Then we the increased the power and then started cooling again until we start to lose fluid and the temperature climped up to 135 degrees. That might have been the moment when the engine dagamed”, Latvala said.

“However, we managed to get to the pause where the mechanics of the team made a kind of wonder when they got the engine to driving condition again.”

Latvala dropped to eighth position on the stages driven on Friday, being two and half minutes from the lead. On Saturday he just focused on keeping the position when the leg of seven stages were driven.

“There wasn’t much power to use and the brakes heated at the long stages”, Latvala said.

Despite the problems Latvala finished the leg as sixth, four and half minutes from the lead. On final day he collected extra points from the Powerstage where he was fourth.

“On Sunday we tried to get some extra power from the engine. I spinned at the first stage on the morning so it was a lost case but I did my best at the Powerstage. I made it without mistakes.”

All in all, the competition left a good feeling for me and now we know much more about the situation with the engine and the brakes in these conditions.

Cris Meeke took a win and Sebastien Ogier was second. Meeke’s rally ended when he crashed out at the final stage and hit a car at the parking area. He managed to get back to the road and drove to the finish. When it comes to WRC overall results, Latvala is at second position, eight points from the leader Ogier.

1 2 ►

Latvala raised Toyota team up to the group of winners

The team of Toyota and Jari-Matti Latvala were happier than ever as Latvala drove his WRC Yaris to the podium in the end of Rally Sweden. Hardly anyone would have believed Toyota to be the winner already in it’s second WRC competition. Latvala earned his fourth win in Rally Sweden with his perfect driving.

“I got good tips from Tommi for Sunday. He told me to to just keep the focus on driving and that’s what I did”, Latvala summed the final day of the rally.

Latvala was already prepared to start the final stages of Rally Sweden from the second position but he climbed up to the leading position as Thierry Neuville hit to concrete block on the last stage driven on Saturday. However, Neuville’s mistake didnt’t bring the win for Latvala. Ott Tänak from Ford and Sebastien Ogier started near 60 kilometers long final stage 3,8 and 16,6 seconds behind Latvala.  On Sunday rhe icy road helped Latvala in the battle against Tänak and Ogier who came as second and as third to finish, being 29,2 and 59,5 slower than Latvala.

“I got difficulties with turning my car properly on sand based track surrounded by snow. I have so aggressive driving style, that’s not good in conditions like that. It was frustrating”, Latvala said.

Fastest stage I’ve ever drive

Latvala topped off the competition with the fastest time at Powerstage in Torsby and earned five extra points. He could have slowed down for confirming the victory as the gap between Tänak was 20 seconds but instead of slowing down, Latvala drove the fastest time.

“First two kilometers I was struggling a little bit. Then it got better”, Latvala said.

Overall, Latvala drove six fastest times. On the first competion day Latvala drove as fast as Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville until he had to give in at the second last stage of the leg.  When they came to the overnight break Latvala was in second position, being 28,1 seconds behind rally leader, Neuville.

“I couldn’t believe that I could drive this well. Specially the morning loop was great as the roads were icy and the grip was outstanding”, Latvala summed up.

This year the rally Sweden has 31,6 kilometers long special stage in Knon where the fastest times on the stage means average speed of 137 km/h.

It was the fastest stage on my WRC-career, Latvala said.

First rally with Toyota Yaris WRC was jackpot

You can be very satisfied when we ended up in second place in Rally Monte Carlo, which was driven on snowy and icy roads. And that was the mood of Jari-Matti Latvala when he finished Rally Monte Carlo with Toyota Yaris WRC.

-Especially this icy and snowy power stage with slick tyres was really challenging, but now I feel really relieved. I am very happy for our whole team, said Latvala.

Podium was the first one for Jari-Matti after the Neste Rally Finland 2016. Second place in Rally Monte Carlo also touched on Jari-Matti’s best result in this iconic WRC event. Rally was mainly driven from Gap service park in renewed route at the Maritime Alps. Latvala’s rally started with struggling.

– I should have chosen super soft tyres instead of soft compound, Latvala thought back the two stage long opening leg.

The opening leg was shortened to only one stage long, because of accident where spectator died when hitted by Hayden Paddon’s car.

Jari-Matti started the second day from 9th position. Fridays leg of six stages was the snowiest of the rally. He was on the 4th place after friday’s stages.

-Friday morning was tricky for us when car didn’t start from Parc Fermé. Luckily we were able to push the car out from Parc Fermé with Miikka. Then we called for help and car was towed to service, this is allowed by the rules. We were out of service one minute before due time, Latvala reviewed electronical failure.

-Our setup for engine wasn’t the optimum for friday’s conditions, but in general I was quite happy to our performance on friday.

Can’t hope for more

Because of Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville crash on saturday and Ott Tänak’s engine problems plus Latvala’s consistent speed quaranteed second place in overall results.

-On saturday I stalled the engine twice in a hairpin, otherwise it was ok, said Latvala.

Latvala started the last leg of four stages on third position, but moved up to second place after sunday’s first special stage because Tänak had engien problems.

-I can’t ask for more, this was the first contest for the car and team, said Latvala.

New WRC car based on new regulations with more power and more downforce suited well for Latvala’s driving style, unless the car wasn’t yet in best setup.

-Engine is of the car is amazing and braking feel is outstanding. It is easy to drive when car gives you the feedback when you touch the brakes. Also aerodynamics in high speed feels great, analyzed Latvala.

Sebastien Ogier, who were driving his first rally with M-Sport’s Ford, won the rally. And other M-Sport driver Ott Tänak was in third place in overall results.