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WRC: Privateer Latvala Takes Early Lead at Rally Italia
Written by: RACER Staff   http://www.racer.com
05/17/2007 - 07:00 PM
Sardinia, Italy
 


Latvala's performance marks the first time a Stobart driver has ever led a WRC round. (LAT Photo) » More Photos

Finnish privateer Ford driver Jari-Marri Latvala has achieved a rare feat, leading the overall charts at Rally Italia, round six of the 2007 World Rally Championship, after this Friday's first loop of stages.

The team Stobart driver currently commands a 1.5-second lead over works Ford driver and countryman Marcus Gronholm. Behind the double world champion lies Subaru's Petter Solberg, another 5.3sec further back.

Latvala's performance was helped by the fact that the championship frontrunners usually struggle in the opening days of gravel-surface rallies, as the first cars out end up "washing off" the roads for the cars coming further down the order. Still, Latvala's chart-topping day marks the first time ever for a Stobart driver atop the leaderboard in the WRC.

Petter's brother Henning is fourth, also in a privateer focus, while championship points leader and reigning triple world champion Sebastien Loeb completes the
current top-five for Citroen.



Catch up on the latest in IndyCar racing each month in RACER. Jeff Olson gets inside the new and improved Andretti Green Racing team in our June issue, on sale now.


Rally Italia – Overall standings:

1) Latvala, Ford, 51:45.8
2) Gronholm, Ford, 51:47.3 + 01.5
3) Solberg, Subaru, 51:52.6 + 06.8
4) Solberg, Ford, 51:55.3 + 09.5
5) Loeb, Citroen, 51:56.2 + 10.4
6) Atkinson, Subaru, 52:05.8 + 20.0
7) Hirvonen, Ford, 52:07.4 + 21.6
8) Sordo, Citroen, 52:36.5 + 50.7
9) Hanninen, Mitsubishi, 53:01.7 + 1:15.9
10) Ostberg, Subaru, 53:36.2 + 1:50.4