Jari-Matti Latvala inherits Grönholm's seat in Ford rally team

Two Finns will drive for Ford again next season

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Late on Sunday evening, Jari-Matti Latvala stepped into a large pair of boots, as it was announced the 22-year-old rally driver from Lahti would be signing with the Ford works team for the World Rally Championship in 2008.
      Latvala replaces two-time world champion Marcus Grönholm, who retired from the sport at the end of the 2007 season.
      Latvala's contract with the Ford stable is currently for one year. M-Sport, the company that runs Ford's rallying activities, is trying to secure a longer deal with the auto manufacturer. At present the company's agreement with Ford only runs until the end of the 2008 season, but if this is extended, then Latvala's own contract will also benefit.
     
During the 2007 WRC season, Latvala drove a Ford for the private Stobart team, and he finished 8th in the overall standings, collecting 30 points including one podium finish (3rd in the Rally of Ireland).
      The Finn is currently in France, where he is testing his next year's ride in advance of the 2008 season-opener, the Monte Carlo Rally on January 24th.
      His co-driver for the forthcoming season will be Miikka Anttila, who also accompanied him during 2007 with the Stobart Ford.
     
In 2008 Latvala will join forces with fellow-Finn Mikko Hirvonen, who steps up to become the lead Ford driver after his 3rd-place finish in the 2007 season's table behind champion Sebastien Loeb and runner-up Marcus Grönholm.
      At 27, Hirvonen is another young driver, but with considerable experience and with four WRC rally wins under his belt, including three in the past season, in Norway, Japan, and at the closing Rally of Great Britain in Wales. Hirvonen, too, has a Finnish co-driver in Jarmo Lehtinen.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Rally: Loeb wins 4th consecutive World Championship; Grönholm comes in second in farewell race and in overall points (3.12.2007)

Links:
  M-Sport
  Jari-Matti Latvala on WRC pages
  Latvala Motorsport

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