Jari-Matti Latvala secured an unforgettable victory at the Finnish rally, despite drama from a penalty and car trouble. The former Toyota driver swept all 14 stages with fastest times, finishing four minutes ahead, but nearly lost his composure when reminiscing about his past at the venue.
This win felt special for Latvala, especially after two previous rallies ended in engine failures. "It was a great feeling to win this rally. Two fantastic days," he told RallyJournal. However, his path wasn't smooth. On the second run through Hennala, he noticed the steering starting to seize. After inspection at service, the team found a broken steering rack mounting and a bolt stuck in the body.
The team had to work quickly to repair his Toyota Celica. "We had to weld it to keep it in place. It took so much time that we got a one-minute-ten-second penalty," Latvala explained. Despite this, he remained calm because his lead was substantial. "We couldn't risk it. Better to fix it properly than have something serious happen on stage," he added.
The penalty didn't shake his position. He even joked after the rally, "That was the only trouble we had, fortunately. We had enough margin. That's why it pays to drive fast at the beginning, so you have a bit in reserve at the end if something goes wrong." This calm attitude and smart strategy prove Latvala's vast experience in rallying.
Beyond competition, the rally was also nostalgic for Latvala. Two spectator stages were held at the Hennala military barracks, where he completed his military service 20 years ago. "I almost had a tear in my eye. The start of the stage was right outside the door of the reconnaissance company where I served," he recalled. "I could never have imagined that two decades later I would return to the military grounds to race."
This victory demonstrates Latvala's resilience as a veteran driver. Despite technical issues and a penalty, he remained dominant and etched a moving personal milestone. Now, his attention surely turns to the next challenge on the rally calendar.
Baca Juga
Jari-Matti Latvala menang dominan di reli Finlandia dengan sapu bersih 14 stage, meski terkena penalti dan nostalgia saat kembali ke barak militernya.
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Jason Plato angkat bicara usai didepak dari tim balapnya sendiri, Plato Racing, yang kini bernama CPRL. Tim tetap tampil perkasa di Donington.
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