Latvala: a podium was possible

The Stobart VK M-Sport Ford driver led throughout the morning after making the most of a favourable road position. He lost out to Marcus Gronholm in SS4, but was still setting top three stage times when he hit a rock and broke his suspension in the next stage.

"What a day," said Latvala. "It was an absolutely amazing feeling to be leading my first WRC event. I know that I had an advantage with my road position but I was very happy with my driving and the car.

"Even over the second pass when the road conditions were the same for everyone, my times were still up there in the top three. It was all feeling good and coming together really well.

"Then on stage five on a left hand corner I hit a rock on the inside. I remember from the first pass I was a bit wide so I tried to keep the car in some more. I felt the rock and immediately the track control arm broke and we were forced to stop.

"I can't believe it. I wasn't pushing and it was all feeling really comfortable with the car and the pace-notes."

Works Ford team boss Malcolm Wilson praised Latvala's performance.

"It's a long time since a private team have been leading a WRC event outright and today's performance by both Jari-Matti and the whole Stobart team has been fantastic," he said.

"What happened with Jari-Matti was such a shame, but it was a difficult stage and claimed a couple of the other top drivers as well; but boy was he going well this morning."