This past weekend was the second stage of the Championship WRC 2008 - Rally of Sweden. Even before the start of the race the organizers faced a serious challenge. The fact that the snow in a place Karlshtadt, where the race took place, fell only a week before launch, and the day of the race the temperature rose, and the snowy trail began to turn into a mud mess. Due to the vagaries of nature organizers were forced into emergency mode to save the race. As a result, the Swedish Rally still held, but two special stages had to be canceled. Under the weather as a surprise outcome of the race also was unexpected. This time, the podium was occupied by the pilots car brand Ford. The first two places were taken by pilots of the factory team - Jari-Matti Latvala and Mikko Hirvonen. A third Gigi Galli, speaking for the team Stobard Ford, was a real surprise. Young Jari-Matti Latvala has celebrated its first victory at the stages of WRC. In addition, the young Finn (22 years and eight months and seven days) became the youngest winner of the round of the main rally championship in its history, breaking records Henri Toivonen, who at the age of 24 years in 1980, won the Rally of Great Britain. After a fairly unsuccessful performance in the first stage in the Monte Carlo Rally (12 th) Latvala made no secret of jubilation and joy. Jari-Matti took advantage of the second special stage and at the finish line ahead of his closest pursuer, and a team-mate Mikko Hirvonen is almost a minute. After the finish, Latvala said that he was surprised by his confident performance in Sweden after a nondescript race in Monte Carlo. "I must thank Malcolm Wilson (Head of the factory team BP-Ford) for his support. The last few years it happened that I broke his car, and happened much more, but this time he supported me. I'm really happy and now looking forward to Rally Mexico. This victory has given me great confidence in their abilities, the race was perfect from the very first dopa. We managed to ride the whole route virtually unmistakable, and the car did not disappoint, "- said the winner. Before the race was considered the main favorite champion last season and winner of the first stage in Monte Carlo Sebastien Loeb. However, the race in Sweden was for Citroen completely failed. The second pilot of Dani Sordo, received a five-minute penalty for changing the engine in Monte Carlo, finished only sixth place. A Loeb on the fourth Friday failed dope caught snowbank and overturned. We must pay tribute to the car, which then could still dovezti crew to the service area, after which it was announced that the gathering of Seba. Fourth place went to the pilot factory team Subaru Peter Solberg, who is slowly gaining shape. His teammate Chris Atkinson flew in one of Friday's special stages, resulting in a whopping 15 minutes, which did not allow him to fight for good results. Fifth place in overall wins young Norwegian Andreas Mikkelsen, piloted Ford Focus Ramsport. As a result, Loeb conceded the lead in the championship Mikki Hirvonen and now shares second place with a triumphant rally in Sweden Latvaloy. Despite such a successful performance Jari-Matti modestly assesses his chances in the fight for the title in the new season. "I hope that one day I will fight for victory in the championship. But I think that this year it will Mikko. Although, let's see what happens next, "- said the young Finn. The results of the Rally of Sweden: 1. Jari-Matti Latvala, Ford Focus RS WRC 2:46.41,2 2. Mikko Hirvonen, Ford Focus RS WRC +58,3 3. Gigi Galli, Ford Focus RS WRC +2.23,2 4. Petter Solberg, Subaru Impreza WRC +2.59,4 5. Andreas Mikkelsen, Ford Focus WRC +5.46,0 6. Dani Sordo, Citroen C4 WRC +7.13,1 7. Toni Gardemeister, Suzuki SX4 WRC +10.35,3 8. Juho Hanninen, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV +12.27,5 9. Mads Ostberg, Subaru Impreza WRC +13.28,5 10. Jari Ketomaa, Subaru Impreza N14 +13.50,7
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