Midday wrap: Latvala on top for Ford

Jari-Matti Latvala has completed the opening loop of stages of Rally Argentina with a lead of 12.3s in his Ford Fiesta RS WRC.

The Finn, co-driven by Miikka Anttila, moved into top spot in the overall standings by winning Friday’s first test. He extended his advantage through stage three before moving clear with a sensational time on the mixed-surface El Condor stage, which concluded with a 20-kilometre all-asphalt stretch. He was 9.3s faster than his closest rival, Petter Solberg, and recorded an average speed of 196.2kph over the final 5.94-kilometres

“I’ve had a very good feeling with the car and had absolutely no problems,” said Latvala. “I made a big attack on El Condor by lowering the car by 20 millimetres. This gave me more confidence.”

Solberg is second in his privateer Citroen DS3 WRC after a solid start to his event. “It was very hard on the Tarmac sections because we haven’t tested anything on Tarmac before,” said the Norwegian. “But I’m very happy how it worked out.”

Sebastien Ogier reached service in Villa Carlos Paz in third overall in his factory DS3 WRC, 2.7s in front of factory Citroen team-mate Sebastien Loeb. However, Loeb has subsequently been handed a one-minute penalty after his co-driver Daniel Elena checked him in to the regroup ahead of his allotted time.

Loeb’s misfortune has promoted Mikko Hirvonen into fourth. The Finn, driving a Fiesta RS WRC, currently trails Loeb by seven points in the drivers’ standings. He said: “It’s been fine, just the Tarmac section I lost a lot on Jari-Matti. I didn’t have the confidence towards the end, particularly under braking and the car was moving. Otherwise we’ve had good speed and a good fight.”

Mads Ostberg is sixth in his M-Sport Stobart Fiesta on his first appearance on Argentina’s demanding stages: “I’ve been steady from the beginning to get a feeling with the car and the stages. We’ve been making changes, it’s going okay.”

Ostberg’s team-mate Matthew Wilson reported a trouble-free start to his Rally Argentina as he continues his quest for more WRC points. The Briton is 16.2s clear of Munchi’s Ford driver Federico Villagra.

Argentine Villagra admitted to struggling on the rough stages and also revealed that his Fiesta’s engine lost power on the 20-kilometre asphalt section of El Condor. “It seemed to be on three cylinders,” he said.

Ken Block, back on WRC duty following his shakedown smash in Portugal in late March, is ninth in his Monster Fiesta. “The stages are amazing but difficult so I’m tacking it easy, trying to get round,” said the American.

Patrik Flodin is the top Production Car World Rally Championship contender in 10th overall in his Subaru Impreza WRX. He heads class rival Michal Kosciuszko (Mitsubishi Lancer) by 7.6s. Hayden Paddon is third in the showroom division in his Impreza, 11.5s behind Kosciuszko.

Daniel Oliveira is 13th after four stages aboard his Brazil World Rally Team MINI John Cooper Works WRC despite reaching service with his right-rear suspension askew following a brush with a rock, which occurred after he picked up a puncture five kilometres Friday’s first stage. “We are pleased to be here because it was very dangerous on the asphalt sections,” said the Brazilian rookie.

Peter van Merksteijn Jr was delayed on stage four when he stopped to check for a power loss on his DS3 WRC. “We heard a whooshing noise and had no power,” explained the Dutchman. “We think the pipe to the turbo might be loose.”

Crews are now preparing to repeat Friday morning’s stages with the first, the 18.23-kilometre El Mirador-San Lorenzo test, due to get underway at 15:17hrs.