by Rob Wilkins
Manfred Stohl believes that
Jari-Matti Latvala could be
Sebastien Loeb's biggest threat in the coming years.
Stohl has been impressed with Jari's form since the Finn was promoted to the
BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team and reckons that the Uddeholm Swedish Rally winner will get stronger and stronger as the season goes on.
Indeed while
Mikko Hirvonen may top the standings at the moment, five points up on Loeb and 17 up on Latvala, Manfred still reckons Jari is the better bet for the future.
"I am not sure," Stohl told
Crash.net Radio, when asked if Mikko Hirvonen can stop Sebastien from taking the 2008 drivers' title.
"I don't think Hirvonen is the right person for it. [I am not sure anyone can do it] - not this year [anyway]. It is not easy, but if someone can, it is Jari-Matti."
Stohl, who has competed in over 100 WRC events and who was apart of the OMV Kronos
Citroen WRT in 2007, added that while he is missing being apart of the World Rally Championship this year, he can't help but be slightly worried by how things are going.
"When you have been doing it for a long time you do miss it. But it is a bit disappointing what it is like at the moment and where it is going," he added.
"It is missing a bit of professionalism in my view. If you finish 20 minutes behind and you are still fourth overall, as was the case in Argentina [with Conrad Rautenbach], that is a bit worrying. There are just not enough drivers' there. It is missing the quantity."
Stohl himself meanwhile will make his debut in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge next week, when he takes in the Rally Portugal in a Peugeot 207 Super 2000, and he is looking forward to seeing what he can do.
"The organiser called me and asked me if I wanted to take part. I was just happy to get the chance and we soon came to an agreement. That is how it started," he continued.
