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Latvala runs down the order

Qualifying Stage winner makes surprising choice for Rally Sweden start position

By Franck Drui

9 February 2012 - 20:45

Ford driver Jari-Matti Latvala will start tomorrow’s opening day of Rally Sweden in 17th place on the road following the Finn’s surprise choice of running order.

Latvala’s fastest time at this morning’s Qualifying Stage afforded him the chance to select his place on the road for the Friday action ahead of all the 21 priority seeded drivers. Clearly expecting conditions on the road to improve as the cars progress through the stage, Latvala selected 17th.

Next up, his former team-mate Mikko Hirvonen slotted in one place behind him, with the two time Rally Sweden winner’s fellow Citroen driver Sebastien Loeb in 19th place.

Brazilian Mini driver Paulo Nobre will lead the field away on this second round of the FIA World Rally Championship powered by Nokia when day one re-starts tomorrow morning.

The order is: Nobre; Thierry Neuville; Peter Van Merksteijn; Richard Goransson; Michal Solowow; Nasser Al-Attiyah; Armindo Araujo; Sebastien Ogier; Jari Ketomaa; Henning Solberg; Dani Sordo; Martin Prokop; Petter Solberg; Ott Tanak; Patrik Sandell; Evgeny Novikov; Jari-Matti Latvala; Mikko Hirvonen; Sebastien Loeb; Mads Ostberg, Eyvind Brynildsen.