Wilson: I'm running out of ideas with Latvala

BP Ford Abu Dhabi team director Malcolm Wilson has confirmed that Jari-Matti Latvala will definitely do the Rally Finland at the end of next month, despite another gaff at the weekend in Poland.

Ford looked all set to finish one-two on Sunday and notch up another third maximum 18-point haul in as many events. That would have allowed the 'Blue Oval' close to within six points of Citroen in the race for the manufacturers' championship.

However, in the end the M-Sport-run squad actually lost ground after Latvala crashed out in the final test, the short 2.50 kilometre Mikolajki super special, and threw away second place.

Speaking following the eighth round in the 2009 World Rally Championship and after seeing the gap to Citroen increase to 17-points, Wilson admitted that he just couldn't believe what had happened.

He also added that he is not sure what else they can do to help the 24-year-old, who while incredibly quick and talented, is also rather too accident-prone.

"I must admit it is now many years since I was a spectator at any stages, because we always seemed to have a problem. Needless to say, I did not expect to see what I saw at the super special stage right in front of me," said Wilson.

"Imagine the shock. The whole team were there. Imagine the emotion of the whole team, who were there to witness a fantastic result. It went there and then, three days of a great work just evaporated in front of everyone - just unbelievable.

"I went to watch the perfect end of a perfect weekend but I can't believe what happened right in front of my eyes. It was heartbreaking to see such an excellent result slip away after both drivers did such a superb job.

"It is difficult at this moment in time now and to be perfectly honest I am running out of ideas [of how we can help Jari-Matti].

"We were really in a position to challenge for the championship. I am not saying it is dead and buried, but we sure have a mountain to climb. We have invested in him for a long time. He made good progress in Sardinia and now we are back to square one again. But he will start Rally Finland in a BP Ford car."

Despite the disappointment though, Mikko Hirvonen's win - his second in succession - was more than some consolation and the Finn now moves to the top of the drivers' championship, 1 point ahead of Sebastien Loeb.

"Mikko has been fantastic throughout. He drove superbly all weekend and thoroughly deserved to take his second win in a row," Wilson summed-up.