Jari-Matti Latvala

Jari-Matti Latvala

Jari-Matti Latvala, Rally Finland 2015
Personal information
Nationality	Finnish
Born	(1985-04-03) 3 April 1985 (age 31) Töysä, Finland
World Rally Championship record
Active years	2002–present
Co-driver	Miikka Anttila
Teams	Stobart Ford, Ford, Volkswagen, Toyota
Rallies	172
Championships	0
Rally wins	17
Podiums	59
Stage wins	472
Total points	1368
First rally	2002 Rally Great Britain
First win	2008 Swedish Rally

Jari-Matti Latvala (born 3 April 1985) is a Finnish rally driver competing in the World Rally Championship. His co-driver has been Miikka Anttila since the 2003 Rallye Deutschland. He is well known for his aggressive driving style, which earns him many plaudits, and comparisons to the late Colin McRae. With 17 event victories in the WRC, he is the most successful driver to not have won a championship.

Latvala began driving when he was eight years old, after receiving a Ford Escort from his father Jari Latvala, also a rally driver and 1994 national champion in the Group N class. At the age of ten, Latvala started practicing with an Opel Ascona on a frozen lake.

Latvala's first world rally was the 2002 Rally Great Britain at the age of 17. He finished in 17th position with a Mitsubish Lancer Evolution VI. In 2003, Latvala competed in four WRC events with a Ford Focus WRC, finishing tenth at the Acropolis Rally, 17th at the Rallye Deutschland, 14th at the Neste Oil Rally Finland and tenth at the Rally Great Britain.

In 2004, Latvala mostly competed with an S1600 class Junior World Rally Championship car. His best overall result in the World Rally Championship was 21st with a Group N Subaru Impreza WRX STI at the Tour de Corse. In the 2005 season, Latvala competed in nine world rallies; six with the Group N Impreza and three with a World Rally Car. His best overall result was 16th, which he managed three times; at the Swedish Rally with a Toyota Corolla WRC and at the Tour de Corse and the Rally d'Italia Sardegna with the Impreza.