WRC – Latvala: “I feel incredibly bad”

Jari-Matti Latvala has found his old demons in the worst way. The Volkswagen driver was able to give his team the first by coming within 19 points of his teammate Sébastien Ogier who had abandoned during the second stage of the Rally from Germany. The Finn who remained on a success at the Rallye des 1000 Lacs lost everything by making a mistake while he had a one minute lead over Chris Meeke et Thierry Neuville, his closest pursuers (see video). “We held victory in our hands. I feel incredibly bad after we went out. It’s especially for the team. I could have given them this success, but unfortunately I made a mistake which had serious consequences. »

The Scandinavian takes full responsibility for his road accident in Dhrontal (SS15). If the Volkswagen driver was aware that he had no risk to take, the pressure of victory once again got the better of him. “The conditions were extremely difficult as we alternated between wet and dry roads. The road looked dry as I rounded a left turn, but it turned out to be more slippery than I thought. The car left at the end of the bend and we fell into the vineyards. Unable to go back up, I tried to get back on the road from the bottom. Unfortunately we hit a barrier and had to abandon. »

Despite this disillusionment which greatly reduces Jari-Matti Latvala's title chances, the Finn does not want to lose hope even if he knows that such an opportunity is extremely rare. “If this has an impact on the Championship, my delay on Sébastien remains the same (44 points). I can only try to take it back in the next events and help Vollkswagen win the Manufacturers' title. » the Finn will have three weeks to chew his brakes before leaving for Australia where the last winner is Sébastien Ogier.

The videos of the Rally Germany can be viewed on this link.

Discover the analysis of the German Rally carried out by our special correspondents in issue 1975 of AUTOhebdo, available this evening in digital version on all platforms, and from Wednesday on newsstands.