Latvala wins Sweden Car Rally

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Latvala wins Sweden Car Rally

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Jari-Matti Latvala has won the Rally of Sweden.

13 February,2012 03:17 pm

Fords Jari-Matti Latvala overcame a late puncture to win the Rally of Sweden on Sunday and make amends for crashing out of the Monte Carlo season-opener on the first day.The Finn beat compatriot and former team mate Mikko Hirvonen, now with Citroen, by 16.6 seconds while eight-times world champion Sebastien Loeb finished a distant sixth.Latvala still had to overcome a late scare when he hit a rock and punctured a front tyre on the 22nd stage, a setback that slashed his lead from more than half a minute to eight seconds.He won the same event four years ago and was evidently happy with his sixth World Rally Championship victory.Norways Petter Solberg, Latvalas team mate, hit the same rock on the same 22nd stage and lost third place to compatriot Mads Ostberg, also in a Ford.Frenchman Loeb, winner in Monte Carlo, saw his hopes vanish when he hit a snow bank on the opening day but retained the championship lead by winning the power stage.Loeb leads the title race with 28 points, 10 ahead of Spains Dani Sordo, whose Mini Cooper failed to finish after crashing on the eighth stage, with Petter Solberg third on 15.The next event is the Rally Mexico from March 8-11.