Drivers / co-driver: Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila (
BP Ford Abu Dhabi WRT),
Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen (BP Ford Abu Dhabi WRT) and
Gigi Galli and Giovanni Bernacchini (
Stobart VK M-Sport Ford RT).
Team principal: Malcolm Wilson (BP Ford Abu Dhabi WRT)
Press conference.
Q:
Jari-Matti, congratulations on becoming the youngest driver to win a WRC event since Henri Toivonen in 1980. How does it feel?
Jari-Matti Latvala:
It feels amazing. I can’t even describe the feeling with words; a special moment. Henri Toivonen was a big idol for me and actually I have followed him very carefully when he was having his time. He was 24 when he won the RAC Rally in 1980, but it feels great to beat his record. Malcolm told me you can make it, but I wasn’t sure. Now it’s great.
Q:
How much did it mean to have your dad here to see your first win?
J-ML:
It was a very emotional moment. My father doesn’t cry so often, but he did at the end of the stage. He has been waiting 22 years for this. It was really a good feeling.
Q:
You have seemed very calm this weekend, with the pressure of the lead from the first stage on Friday. How did you manage to keep so cool? How much pressure did you feel?
J-ML:
Always in sport there is pressure and always you have to have a little excitement. It helps you to perform. Last year, some of the rallies I was too excited and using my energy in the wrong places. I have worked on the concentration and making the energy in the right places.
Q:
How much do you think you benefited from your road position on Friday morning?
J-ML:
Of course I got some benefit from that. Friday was the most difficult day – I was 10th car on the road. I had clean roads to drive. With that attack, I was able to keep the lead to the end. That gave us the gap to Mikko (Hirvonen), which I controlled. Those three stages were very important to me.
![Podium. Swedish Rally. February 7-10 2008. [PIC CREDIT: FORD / worldrallypics.com]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/405591.jpg)
