Jari-Matti Latvala wins Rally of France in Corsica
Sunday 4 October 2015 19:52, UK
Finland's Jari-Matti Latvala claimed his third victory of the season by wrapping up the win in the Rally of France in Corsica on Sunday.
Latvala, who also won in Portugal and Finland, beat Britain's Elfyn Evans (Ford) by 43.1 seconds, while his Volkswagen team-mate Andreas Mikkelsen of Norway was third and 46.3 seconds off the pace.
"It's been a great weekend. We haven't been at the maximum at any point, but we had to be careful driving in difficult conditions," said Latvala, the first Finn to win in Corsica since Markku Alen back in 1984.
Last year's French round was held in the Alsace region and Latvala also won that.
Volkswagen have already secured both the manufacturers' and drivers' titles, with France's Sebastien Ogier clinching his third successive crown in Australia last month.
Ogier was hampered by a 10-minute penalty in France after he failed to finish Friday's leg but won Sunday's final power stage.
France was the first rally since Europe's biggest car maker was hit by an emissions scandal and Volkswagen team principal Jost Capito said the company's World Rally Championship programme would not be affected.
"The Volkswagen WRC team could not have been more successful, winning three back-to-back World Championships," he said.
"We have a green light for the project up to and including 2019, and are working hard to ensure we remain as successful as possible on the sporting front."
Rally of France result:
1 J-M Latvala (Fin) Volkswagen 2:39:46.7
2 E Evans (Wal) Ford +43.1 secs
3 A Mikkelsen (Nor) Volkswagen +46.3
4 K Meeke (NIrl) Citroen +1:33.4
5 H Paddon (Nzl) Hyundai +1:53.6
6 M Ostberg (Nor) Citroen +1:59.8
7 D Sordo (Esp) Hyundai +2:10.4
8 B Bouffier (Fra) Ford +2:12.8
9 S Sarrazin (Fra) Ford +2:39.3
10 O Tanak (Est) Ford +3:43.0
Drivers' standings:
1 S Ogier (Fra) Volkswagen Motorsport 238
2 J-M Latvala (Fin) Volkswagen Motorsport 160
3 A Mikkelsen (Nor) Volkswagen Motorsport II 126
4 M Ostberg (Nor) Citroen Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team 98
5 T Neuville (Bel) Hyundai Shell World Rally Team 86
6 K Meeke (NIrl) Citroen Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team 83
7 E Evans (Wal) M-Sport World Rally Team 81
8 H Paddon (Nzl) Hyundai Motorsport N 66
9 O Tanak (Est) M-Sport World Rally Team 63
10 D Sordo (Esp) Hyundai Shell World Rally Team 62
