Jari-Matti Latvala: Ford Fiesta in best shape yet heading to Finland
Last year's Rally Finland winner Jari-Matti Latvala says a 'cat-like' approach to the World Rally Championship's fastest event of all will be needed if he is to take back-to-back victories at home next week
Having just completed his test ahead of the next round of the WRC, the 26-year-old Finn said the Ford Fiesta RS WRC is in the best shape yet this season.
"The car has become increasingly more stable as the season has progressed and it feels great on the fast roads and jumps," he said.
Latvala added, however, that it remained crucial not to allow the super-quick roads to intimidate you.
"It's such a quick rally that a driver must know his limits and be sensible," said Latvala. "You don't want to be frightened at the wheel, but you must be able to feel the fear and recognise where those limits are.
"The pace is such that every error in Finland is magnified, and to win you need to have a perfect drive from the first corner to the last. These are the most difficult gravel roads in the world on which to compete and so much thought has to go into the lines and braking points for jumps. The perfect jump is not too high, with the car landing on all four wheels, like a cat. It requires a higher level of concentration than any other rally."
Next week's event will be Latvala's 100th WRC start.
"To reach 100 starts feels strange," admits Latvala, who has won four times in the WRC. "For me, a driver who makes his 100th start has been in the sport a long time, but I'm only 26 and don't feel I've been around a long time. Perhaps I have!"
Rally Finland gets underway next Thursday afternoon and finishes back in Jyvaskyla on Saturday evening.
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