Finally Ford has a reason to smile - a perfect finish in Rally d'Italia Sardegna 09!What a come back from Latvala. From experiencing the worst accident of his life in Rally Portugal and walking out unhurt to winning Rally Sardegna. Nothing defines a perfect moment. The team management also deserves credit for this. There were all possible talks of him being replaced and questions being raised on his skills, but Malcolm Wilson's trust factor could not be defied. Team orders could have changed the results and favoured Mikko Hirvonen in his pursuit for WRC title, but I guess Latvala deserved this win more than anyone.
Citroen and Ford tried to outperform each other in terms of strategies. Both of their top drivers tried to loose position for the final day, but I guess the only orders that were fruitful were when Latvala was asked to push at the end of day 2. The results were more pleasing, since both the drivers who tired to use tactics to avoid road sweeping on the final day, faced an even more difficult, unforeseen circumstance - hanging dust. All this played in favour of the rally leader.
It all depends on how Latvala takes it from here. Weather he goes back to his 'over-confident' and 'slightly' negligent style or do we see a more mature driver who is going to give Sebastian and Citroen a cut-throat competition for the championship.
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