SS4: Sensational Latvala quickest again

Jari-Matti Latvala has set a sensational pace through the mixed-surface El Condor-Cuesta Blanca stage, going 9.3s faster than his closest rival Petter Solberg. It means the Finn’s lead is now up to 12.3s over the former world champion heading to the service halt in Villa Carlos Paz.

“I’m happy, it’s going better on Tarmac,” said the factory Ford Fiesta RS WRC driver. “I’ve really tried to concentrate and improve driving on Tarmac. I went 20 millimetres lower with the car on the previous stage.”

At the stage finish several drivers reported the difficulties they’d encountered on the 20-kilometre asphalt section, which they tackled using gravel tyres and with full gravel settings on their car.

“It was terrible,” said Citroen’s seven-time world champion Sebastien Loeb. “It was really dangerous, too fast and cannot keep the car on the road. You touch a little bit the brakes in the straight and it’s going everywhere. You cannot push you just try to stay on the road.”

Team-mate Sebastien Ogier was third fastest in his DS3 WRC. He said: “It was not easy and I had a very bad feeling at the end of the stage because the rear was moving so much.”

Ford’s Mikko Hirvonen was 2.5s slower than Loeb with the fifth fastest time. “It’s completely stupid, some sections we’re in sixth gear on the limiter and we’re on gravel tyres,” said Hirvonen. “You can’t set the car up, it’s just a compromise.”

Standings after SS4 :