WRC – Latvala: “My season can finally begin”

After a complicated start to the season spent in the shadow of his teammate Sébastien Ogier at Volkswagen, Jari-Matti Latvala finally averted fate during the rally from Portugal, eight days ago, by grabbing his first podium of the year. A performance achieved thanks to a more aggressive approach, explains the Finnish driver: “I didn't spare myself, I forced myself to go fast, and it started to help me. Before I let myself think that experience and speed would just come to me one day, but it doesn?t work like that? it’s working. »

“This start to the season has been tough and disappointing”, confides the VW driver. “I set better goals for myself and I didn't succeed. The car was fast, but I was somewhere else, on another planet? » His first podium of the year reinvigorated him. “I can finally look forward to this year positively, my championship can finally begin” explains Jari-Matti Latvala. “Now I feel confident in the car. In Argentina my settings will be different, it will be even more comfortable for me, but I am still really, really happy with my result. » Despite everything, the Finn does not think he can play on an equal footing with Sébastien Ogier, the Frenchman comfortably at the top of the Drivers' standings. “I hope to be able to pick him up on certain points. We'll see in Argentina, but he's a step above me.", believes the Finn.