For 2009 the expectation was for Latvala to progress in his performance as number two driver for Ford's factory team.
However the start of the season became a big disappointment for the team, as Latvala went off the road in three of the first four rallies of the year.
In Portugal, he and his co-driver Miikka Anttila were lucky to escape injury in the most serious crash in Latvala's career.
They went off the road on a left-hand bend and rolled 17 times, 150m down a steep hill, and finally came to rest against a tree.
Latvala had specifically been focusing to combat his driver weaknesses going into this rally, so the accident put some extra pressure on him for the future, although he also admitted that he would fully understand if the team did not require his services because of his erratic reputation.
However, after a consistent, steady drive in Argentina, Latvala went on to take his second WRC win of his career on Rally Sardinia ahead of teammate Mikko Hirvonen.
He led from beginning to end, hence driving as first car on the road on both day two and three.
For 2009 the expectation was for Latvala to progress in his performance as number two driver for Ford's factory team. However the start of the season became a big disappointment for the team, as Latvala went off the road in three of the first four rallies of the year. In Portugal, he and his co-driver Miikka Anttila were lucky to escape injury in the most serious crash in Latvala's career. They went off the road on a left-hand bend and rolled 17 times, 150m down a steep hill, and finally came to rest against a tree. Latvala had specifically been focusing to combat his driver weaknesses going into this rally, so the accident put some extra pressure on him for the future, although he also admitted that he would fully understand if the team did not require his services because of his erratic reputation. However, after a consistent, steady drive in Argentina, Latvala went on to take his second WRC win of his career on Rally Sardinia ahead of teammate Mikko Hirvonen. He led from beginning to end, hence driving as first car on the road on both day two and three.
Jari-Matti Latvala