Thursday 16th August 2012

Time For Tea? Latvala in an old Escort

What do you do with your time off? If you're a Finnish rally driver the answer is 'more rallying'

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How do you spend your time when you're not doing your day job? The same, but in slightly less salubrious surroundings? Probably not. But then you're not a factory WRC rally driver (probably). And if 'slightly less salubrious surroundings' in this case are an old Escort rally car then you can forgive Jari-Matti Latvala for spending his time away from the international rally circuit punting about historic events in Finland in a screaming BDA engined Escort. Well, you would, wouldn't you.

This is what he does at weekends!

Probably not as fast as this though. Without wishing to spur another round of Ken Block debate there is some sideways jumping in this video that'll make your hair turn grey, ditto four-wheel drifts inches away from any number of immovable objects (trees, telegraph poles, houses, etc) all handled with that uniquely Finnish combination of crazed speed and icy precision. You can't hear the pace notes but the assumption has to be that co-driver Asko Sairanen is simply repeating "keep it pinned ... dab of oppo ... keep it pinned ... dab of oppo" in a calm Finnish monotone for the entire length of the stage, which they covered at an average speed of 75.5mph and set the fastest time of the day.

You might not need to watch the full 13-minutes but, by heck, it's a hell of a ride. And going by his fanclub's Facebook page, and his own YouTube feed, Latvala is as down-to-earth and honest a petrolhead as you'd ever hope tomeet. No lounging in the sun in Monaco for him when he could be flat out in a Finnish forest, sideways in an endearingly 'patinated' old rally car. Here's hoping for more of the same from Harris and Prosser very soon!

Pics from the Jari-Matti Latvala Official Fan Club Facebook page

 

[GTRene]

Its like dancing with your car, love those old mk2 (and mk1) escorts.

[dapearson]

Stupid question probably, but why do old escorts have the handling characteristics of 911s?

[Pistonwot]

Beautiful to see a proper car that a man has to actually drive in action, such symmetry is sadly being utterly ruined by modern cars.

[garypotter]

Love the old skool rally cars, and the one handed driving style from the start!

I can see the attraction of driving these old cars in rally's but the cost of escorts et al are climbing sky high.

[Dave Hedgehog]

lovely car and simply breath taking driving skill, especially when he keeps his foot in on the tank slapper lol, cocked a gear change up thou

[kaliber]

heres the thing.. Ken Block (no disrespect meant here despite how it might sound) but he isnt great at rallying.

How is that possible? When they guy has the car control and spacial awareness that he obv has, how can he be bad in the WRC?

Im not an expert as this comment might show, however im just asking the question, if someone would like to tell me why im wrong then im ears open.

On a side note, videos golden,

[vincegail]

Best part:
3:25 - 3:45
Rest is also quite nice, though.

[MrKipling43]

Proper.

[Dave Hedgehog]

kaliber said:

heres the thing.. Ken Block (no disrespect meant here despite how it might sound) but he isnt great at rallying.

How is that possible? When they guy has the car control and spacial awareness that he obv has, how can he be bad in the WRC?

Im not an expert as this comment might show, however im just asking the question, if someone would like to tell me why im wrong then im ears open.

On a side note, videos golden,

Ken explains in his interview, he started rallying very late compared to most drivers, the level of driving skill in the WRC is extremely high, he has a lack of money for development and testing, he did his first vid to raise money to race, his sponsors prefer him to race in series other than the WRC which means he cant do a full season, he cant take advantage of the scheduled testing periods and he cant relocate to europe to do the WRC properly

he kinda got what he wanted (cooperate money) but its not where he wants it ie the WRC

[falkster]

vincegail said:

Best part:
3:25 - 3:45
Rest is also quite nice, though.

Agreed!!

[ArnageWRC]

Wish JML would come over to do the Roger Albert...would be awesome!!

[trickymex]

Awesome driving, awesome car, I've had 5 mk1 escorts and one mk2 escort, and love them but the prices now days is a little crazy. If you want a nice one it's going to be a minimum of 10-15k, 15-25k for a really nice clean group 4 one, my mate has a orange mk2 with a warrior engine in it for 23k with all the right stuff on it. That's gives you an idea of price

[tyrrell]

That was cool & the gang

[GTRene]

look at those...jummi

[sumpoil]

Given that oh so elusive lottery win, a flat-front tarmac-spec mk2 (possibly with modern 2.0l variable valve DOHC on injection and quaife 6-speed) has always been one of the top 10 cars on my list .... that said, the list does go on to about number 132! ....

[kars]

Any particular reason why he does not rev-match on downshift?

[vit4]

That sound is pure heaven

[Dave Hedgehog]

kars said:

Any particular reason why he does not rev-match on downshift?

he doesnt seam to have a speed problem

[heightswitch]

In 37 years no manufacturer has been able to come up with a car which does that better!!

[oobster]

Was there not some guy over in Ireland who was planning to start making mk1 or mk2 shells? Sure I read that on here somewhere.