Latvala and co-driver Janni Hussi returned to winning ways as they topped the standings in the Historic Acropolis Rally. The event featured 13 special stages, and Latvala set 12 fastest times in his Toyota Celica.
The winning margin was huge, with Greek driver Marios Stafilopatis finishing almost ten minutes behind – precisely 9 minutes 58.7 seconds adrift.
Latvala badly needed the result after being forced to retire from the previous three championship rounds with technical problems. This time the Celica withstood the pounding of the Greek gravel roads, and Latvala secured his third victory of the season.
Championship leader Maciej Lubiak of Poland finished fifth. The victory was important for Latvala as he closed the points gap to both Lubiak and Britain’s Will Graham, who lies second in the standings and finished sixth in Greece.
The Historic ERC still has three rounds left this season, with the next scheduled for late September in Italy.
Latvala is expected to contest two more rounds this season, but will likely miss the finale in Portugal, which clashes with Rally Japan where he is due to serve as Toyota’s team principal.
