Team backs Latvala

Ford team boss Malcolm Wilson has reiterated his support of lead driver Jari-Matti Latvala after the Finn hit trouble for the third time in this year’s FIA World Rally Championship powered by Nokia when he retired on day two in Portugal.

Latvala, who crashed out in Monte-Carlo and Mexico earlier this season, was leading the gravel event when he skated off the road in treacherous weather conditions after an errant rock broke part of the suspension on his Ford Fiesta RS WRC.

He returned under Rally 2 regulations on day three to secure two bonus points by setting the fastest time on the event-closing Power Stage.

“Conditions were treacherous, we needed to be smart and clever but we were caught out,” said Wilson. “Jari-Matti is very hurt but we’re 100 per cent supportive of him. We’ll stay behind him and ensure we get back to winning rallies. We know both he and the car have the pace and we need to ensure that all comes together on the next rally in Argentina. Friday was a huge disappointment but I’ve been in this sport long enough to know we can fight back. Our real team spirit will kick in, the law of averages tell you it’s going to come right.”

Latvala, who won February’s Rally Sweden, is currently sixth in the WRC drivers’ standings, 38 points behind leader Loeb.