Jari-Matti Latvala celebrates asphalt breakthrough in France
Jari-Matti Latvala believes he took a big step closer to being able to match Sebastien Loeb on asphalt with his second place in France last weekend
The Ford driver ended the event just 15.5 seconds adrift of winner Loeb.
Latvala had been in the thick of the lead battle until he dropped time going off the road on the first run through the Pays d'Ormont test on Saturday morning.
He rates the performance as his best on asphalt so far.
"I really have learned a lot," said Latvala. "It was a very tough event and I now know where I have to work to go quicker.
"My problem is still in the muddy sections of the stage. When the road is fast and wide - like a race circuit - then I am OK and I how to make the time.
"It's when the rain is coming and the grip is changing all of the time, this is when Loeb is still taking the time.
"I have to work on it some more, but I am going in the right way.
"This is definitely my best result, we were much further away from him [Loeb] in Germany when we were also second.
"Of course, I wanted the win, but this is a good result."
Although the next World Rally Championship round is Sardinia is on gravel, the majority of the mixed-surface season-closer in Spain in November runs on asphalt.
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