Latvala wins Lahti Historic Rally again

Volkswagen driver Jari-Matti Latvala won the Lahti Historic Rally again last weekend for the second year in succession.

The Finn, who had already won his home WRC event, Rally Finland, the previous weekend, was piloting his own Audi Quattro, and he dominated, topping the times in all twelve stages and eventually bringing it to the finish over 5.5 minutes up on Ford Escort RS S2000 runner Kimmo Juhannusvuori. Matts Myrsell was third in a Porsche Carrera RS.

"It feels good [to take my second win in two weekends]," he said at the finish. "I have had a really nice two events. Of course Rally Finland was something very unique, winning it a second time and with such a small margin. So many people and so many fans have come to me and said: 'Thank you, what a great rally' and have shook my hand.

"This weekend we have just had good fun with the Audi Quattro. It was my first rally with my own Quattro, which I bought from Andrea Zivian. I am really happy with how things went.

"We had a little problem with the waste gauge but it didn't slow us down so much. We learned a little something [too] and we can improve for the future."

It was the fourth time in his career he has won the Lahti Historic Rally (with previous wins coming in 2013, 2010 and 2009) - you can see him in action in SS2 and ride onboard by clicking on the Video link below.

Latvala's focus will now switch to the next round in the WRC in Germany later this month and he will do a one-day test in Spain prior to that.

"Hopefully I will be there fighting for the top places on Rallye Deutschland," he added. "Last year I was leading until I hit a hinkelstein and later I went properly off.

"I hope that we can have a relaxing rally and we can try and get a good result and still keep the fight going on in the championship with Sebastien [Ogier]."