Having just missed out several times this year, Jari-Mati Latvala can finally call himself a World Rally Championship podium winner after holding onto third position on the Rally Ireland.

After finishing fourth on three occasions in his career, Latvala was keen not to make the same mistake as he did last time out in Japan when he crashed out whilst running third.

However, while he had a comfortable margin back to Mikko Hirvonen in fourth place, the Finn still had to contend with difficult weather conditions that made the asphalt very slippery in most places.

Nonetheless, a second stage win all but cemented third place for the Stobart VK Ford driver, a result he was thrilled with, not least because it occurred on his less favoured tarmac surface.

“It's an amazing feeling to be on the podium especially on a tarmac rally. I have tried so hard all year and this result has given me a massive boost. I have come very close before, most recently in Japan, but to get this result here has more than made up for it.

“The conditions were so difficult here and I knew before the rally that it was going to be a hard one but I have driven sensibly and it has been a very strong performance from both myself and Miikka.

Latvala has now set his sights on a strong result on the Rally GB, not least because it signals a return to his favoured gravel surface and also to an event on which he finished fourth last year whilst competing in only his third event with the Stobart team.

“Now I am looking forward to Rally GB where we will be back on gravel; we had a great result on this rally last year so hopefully we can repeat this again.”

The team's third podium of the season, team boss Malcolm Wilson lauded Latvala's performance as Stobart's 'best ever result'. Furthermore, it means - in combination with the three manufacturers' points scored by Henning Solberg in the sister car - they move back ahead of Subaru for third in the manufacturers' standings.

“This is the best ever result for a Stobart car and a dominating performance by Jari on tarmac. He approached this rally in a meticulous manner and never lost his focus on the extremely demanding stages," said Wilson Sr.

“It's also impressive for the team to move into third place in the manufacturers' championship, the Stobart team are now a force to be reckoned with and to have two Ford teams in the top three places demonstrates how the Stobart crews have backed up the BP-Ford team all year.”