Polo updates suit Latvala

Jari-Matti Latvala has drawn on experience gained from his days at Ford to improve his Volkswagen Polo R under braking ahead of Rally Argentina.

The Finn was fastest in qualifying this morning for this fifth round of the FIA World Rally Championship and put his increased confidence down to updates installed on the car since the previous round in Portugal.

“In Portugal the confidence started to come. I started to feel and understand how much I could push into the corner and how well it will stay on the ground,” said Latvala, who endured a difficult opening three rounds before taking third in the Algarve-based rally last month.

“I was a little bit suffering with the braking in Portugal and I knew that coming here I had updates on the differentials to make them a bit more similar under braking to my previous car (Ford Fiesta RS).

“It gives me more confidence so that I can go deeper into the corners under braking and the wheels don’t lock so easily. This was the change we did here and in qualifying it felt good,” said the 28-year-old, who is in his first season with the German squad.