Motorsport: Steady Latvala snatches rally win

Jari-Matti Latvala celebrating his win yesterday. Photo / Getty Images

Finnish driver Jari-Matti Latvala put the demons of two years to bed by winning the New Zealand Rally in a dramatic end to three days of racing yesterday. The Ford Focus RS driver threw away the chance of winning in 2008 when he damaged the radiator in his car on the last stage, gifting the race to Sebastien Loeb.

The tables were turned this year when the Citroens of Sebastien Ogier and Loeb came unstuck on the last day of the rally, handing the trophy to Latvala.

"I was maybe not the fastest in the rally, but the most consistent and that's what won the race," said Latvala. "Although I was pushing hard sometimes it didn't feel so good, so I waited. It's not my normal style but I have been learning this consistency thing this year and it's bringing results."

For the third time in a row, Rally New Zealand has produced one of the most exciting rallies on the international calendar.

After three days of racing on some of the best roads on the world rally championship calendar an incredulous Latvala took maximum points from Sebastien Ogier, and the gravel master himself Loeb finished in third.

"To lose the victory spinning just before the end is very frustrating," said Ogier. "It was a very good weekend for us first time here. I was very pleased with my pace being second fastest behind Seb [Loeb]. This weekend it was a big attack all the time. But to win the rally you have to be the most regular and Jari-Matti was the best at that."

Loeb had the race won after yesterday's first stage but it slipped through his fingers after a spin and stall on the final stage.

"It was a strange event for me," said Loeb. "On the first day we lost a lot of time but I had a great day on the Saturday pushing to the limits to finish second."

Petter Solberg won the bragging rights after day one of the rally from Latvala and Ogier and stayed in contention during day two. He threw it all away on the last stage while vying for the lead when he took on a power pole and lost, ending his rally.

Mikko Hirvonen finished fourth and moved to third overall on 64 points after five WRC rounds. Loeb remains on top with 108 points and Solberg drops to fifth with 53 points but Latvala moves up to second on 72 points with Ogier in fourth on 63 points.