WRC Corsica: Latvala praises new foam protection after tree strike
Jari-Matti Latvala has praised the improved side-impact protection on World Rally Championship cars following the crash which ruled him out of the 2018 Tour de Corse on Saturday
The left-hand corner of the Finn's Toyota struck a tree near the end of the second run of the 21-mile Cagnano-Pino-Canari test.
The car was retired from the day, but the FIA has authorised the team's decision to cut out and replace a section of damaged roll cage as part of an attempt to allow Latvala to rejoin the action tomorrow under Rally 2 rules.
Improved side-impact protection was a big part of the new-for-2017 WRC regulations, with the crew moved further inside the car and more energy-absorbing foam placed between them and a possible impact points.
This was the first major test of those new regulations.
"It was a fairly big impact, but you can see now how well the safety foam is working," Latvala told Autosport.
"The foam at the back of the car is pushed in. Sometimes you would come away from this kind of crash and you would feel it in the neck, but this time I really don't feel anything.
"You can really start to say these cars are safe - this is the first time we have seen [the side-impact foam] really tested and it's very good."
After a troubled start to the event, Latvala had picked the pace up following suspension changes that improved the car's performance.
"Before we changed [we] had a car that turned but had no lateral grip," Latvala said.
"Then we opened the [damper] rebound and stiffened the roll bar. For the first time the tyres were biting - the feeling was amazing - and I was really starting to enjoy it.
"I pushed and pushed and the times were really good - we made fastest split times in the stage, but then there was a little bump downhill into the left corner.
"This locked the rear wheel and then the rear snapped and I went sideways to the tree."
WRC Corsica: Ogier holds lead as Meeke crashes out of second place
WRC Tour de Corse: Sebastien Ogier seals victory on Sunday
Why WRC's Safari tour is more than just a rally
OPINION: A source of national pride in Kenya, the Safari Rally is also a sporting, cultural and economic phenomenon. And as last weekend's World Rally Championship round reminded us, it's a key driver in establishing Africa’s place in world motorsport
How Rovanpera tamed a wild Safari Rally
The Safari Rally acted as a brutal test of driver and car resolve as multiple retirements opened the path for a historic Toyota 1-2-3-4 triumph, headed by star Kalle Rovanpera. But keeping things clean was only half of the challenge, as a well-timed charge when conditions worsened allowed the Finn to take control
How Tanak turned the tables to deliver Hyundai a timely WRC triumph
The 2019 champion has been a bit-part player recently, but Ott Tanak ended a 15-month drought in fine style with a dominant win in Sardinia. On a weekend when championship leader Kalle Rovanpera struggled with cleaning the road, his Hyundai rival has made his belated arrival into the title race and given cause for those predicting a walkover from the Toyota star to pause
How Rovanpera overcame rallying royalty in Portugal to extend his WRC lead
Although the Rally Portugal entry list featured World Rally Championship royalty in Sebastiens Loeb and Ogier, victory was secured by rallying's rising star in Kalle Rovanpera. Here's the story of his 2022 hat-trick, as his key rivals faltered among the gravel and asphalt ahead of them
The former WRC star playing the unsung hero role for Rovanpera
Kalle Rovanpera’s 2022 World Rally Championship displays have been spectacular, with the Toyota driver benefitting from a secret weapon in his crew to win two of the opening three rallies. But while the former challenger to Sebastien Loeb won’t take credit for his fellow Finn's performances, a key bond has been formed which could prove key to Rovanpera’s title charge
How Rovanpera's Croatia turnaround sent a message to his WRC rivals
After a dominating Rally Croatia, a wrong tyre choice on the final day looked to have undone all Kalle Rovanpera's hard work and left him with a mountain to climb heading into the power stage. That he emerged the winner all the same has surely quelled any lingering doubts that the Finn is the man to beat in the 2022 WRC
How M-Sport's faith in Loubet led to a WRC reprieve after a dismal 2021
It's fair to say 2021 was a year to forget for Pierre-Louis Loubet. A maiden full World Rally Championship season offered hope but soon turned into a nightmare that ended in hospital, after being hit by a car in a road traffic accident. Now handed a lifeline by M-Sport, the Frenchman is desperate to rebuild his career
Why WRC mechanics deserve more respect
The drivers get the glare of attention, but it’s the mechanics who are key to the operation of any World Rally Championship car. Autosport donned a set of overalls and joined M-Sport on a Belgian national rally event to get an inside look into the trials and tribulations of a rally mechanic