Latvala second in World Rally Championship

02 May 2017  /   Event

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Jari-Matti Latvala, Toyota's lead driver, has retained second place in the World Rally Championship, despite finishing fifth in the latest round in Argentina.

Fellow countryman Miikka Anttilla was co-driving, in what was the roughest round of the series this year, with rocks, washouts, water crossings and ruts peppering the high-speed stages.

“Our car is very tough, we can say that for sure, and we certainly improved the performance compared to the last gravel round in Mexico,” said Latvala.

Latvala won the Swedish round of the series, earlier in the season, in only the second appearance by the Yaris in its debut season in the World Rally Championship.

Latvala and the new Yaris WRC have been a model of consistency, finishing all five opening rounds of the series so far. He is 16 points behind defending World Champion Sebastien Ogier, while the Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team is third in the Manufacturer’s Championship.

The next round of the series is in Portugal in three weeks’ time.

Rally of Argentina results:

  1.  Thierry Neuville, 3 hours 38 minutes 10.6 seconds               
  2.  Elfyn Evans, +0.7 seconds behind
  3.  Ott Tanak, +29.9 behind
  4.  Sebastien Ogier, +1:24.7 behind
  5. Jari Matti Latvala, +1:48.1 behind
  6. Hayden Paddon, +7:42.7 behind 

Progress points:

World Driver’s Championship:

  1.  Ogier, 102 points
  2. Latvala, 86
  3. Neuville, 84

World Manufacturer’s Championship:

  1.  M Sport, 162
  2. Hyundai, 140
  3. Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT, 99