Latvala asked to push for win in Catalunya Rally
Ford team principal Malcolm Wilson has instructed Jari-Matti Latvala to go out and win this week's Catalunya Rally in an effort to help Mikko Hirvonen's World Rally Championship title hopes
Wilson said Hirvonen's priority has to be to reach the finish of the Salou-based event, while his team-mate has been told to take points away from Citroen's Sebastien Loeb.
"Jari has shown he has the speed to win this rally," said Wilson. "And tomorrow's day on gravel is going to help him. We want Jari to push hard, we want him to get up among the Citroens to try and stop Sebastien from winning.
"Mikko has to be at the finish and as high up as possible. Obviously, if Mikko's in the place to push for the win, then that's great, but at the same time we need him to be comfortable."
Hirvonen and Loeb are joint leaders of the WRC drivers' title ahead of the penultimate round of the series, with Loeb's fellow DS3 WRC driver Sebastien Ogier just three points behind them. This year's title will be decided between those three drivers.
Wilson added: "The one thing we absolutely have to do is stop Loeb from winning the rally and winning the power stage, that can't happen - if it does, it's over for us. This is Mikko's chance, it's another chance of a lifetime. He's come a long way as a driver since he was in a similar position in 2009, but he's got to make the next two rallies count."
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