Most of you can probably visualize the Finn's shunt in 2009, his rookie year with Ford, when he lost control of his Focus RS WRC and rolled no less than 17 times down a mountainside in Portugal. Miraculously enough, he escaped the accident with only some minor bruises.
However, his return to the rally a year later was as unsuccessful as the one in 2009, ending with a crash. The 2011 Rally Portugal will be his 4th attempt to make the scoreboard, and he reckons he'll find it as difficult as he has until now.
“It's the most difficult gravel rally of the season,” said Latvala, according to Autosport. “The roads are narrow with many blind crests. Trees and stones line the stages, both on the inside of corners where a driver looks to make cuts, and on the outside where a car slides wide if a driver approaches too quickly.”
“The roads have a clay surface which is hard in dry conditions and demanding on tires. However, if it rains they quickly become muddy and slippery,” he added, while insisting that he won't be thinking of his 2009 accident when he'll return to Portugal next weekend.
After 2 rounds in the 2011 season, Latvala is placed 3rd overall in the drivers classification, trailing teammate Mikko Hirvonen and reigning world champion Sebastien Loeb.
For a quick remember of what happened in 2009, take a look at the video below.
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