Friday 15th March 2013

Pic Of The Week: Latvala cleared for takeoff

Jari-Matti Latvala earns his wings on last weekend's Rally Mexico

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Comment threads that stem from most of our rally stories these days often result in a plethora of disappointed or irate posts about the demise of WRC and the paucity of the associated television coverage. And not without reason. But let’s put such concerns aside just for a second and be thankful for the fact that it does, at least, still exist – and in doing so, it gives us such spectacular images as this one.

If you’re a regular reader, you’ll recognise it from our WRC report at the start of the week. Can you blame us for posting it for a second time, though? Even the most hardened of modern WRC sceptics can still enjoy the sight of Jari-Matti Latvala’s Polo R WRC getting quite considerably airborne here, with a good couple of metres of clear air between him and the deck at least. Latvala's team-mate Ogier went on to take overall victory at Rally Mexico, giving him a 74-point tally in the driver’s championship and leaving him way out ahead of his nearest championship rival, Mikko Hirvonen.

OK, so modern rallying might not be as gripping as it once was, and British TV coverage has dwindled to a point where it’s virtually non-existent – but this picture does at least show there’s still some spectacle left in the WRC!

Traditional (4:3)
Computer widescreen (16:10)
TV widescreen (16:9)
Portrait (smartphone, etc)

[Twincam16]

Great stuff (although it is worth pointing out that ITV4 has an hour-long highlights show on the Tuesday following the rally, repeated the following Saturday morning, and will screen the Wales Rally GB day-to-day the way it covers the Isle of Man TT).

[callahan]

Twincam16 said:

Great stuff (although it is worth pointing out that ITV4 has an hour-long highlights show on the Tuesday following the rally, repeated the following Saturday morning, and will screen the Wales Rally GB day-to-day the way it covers the Isle of Man TT).

I didn't know that, it will be good to get my rallying fix again, thanks.

[RX7]

Fantastic photo, it truly is, but i feel saddened to say i cant get excited over a Polo. Yes it is a WRC car in full flight and that should be all that is required, but i cant get excited about it and i want to, very frustrating!

[nickfrog]

I assume you do realise it has nothing to do with a Polo, apart from those four letters.

[Krikkit]

nickfrog said:

I assume you do realise it has nothing to do with a Polo, apart from those four letters.

Don't they start with the bodyshell to make these cars? After that, utterly agreed.

[Twincam16]

nickfrog said:

I assume you do realise it has nothing to do with a Polo, apart from those four letters.

IMO they should have based it on the Audi A1. Not only do you have the cache of all those Quattro associations, but the A1 Quattro is closer in spirit to a WRC car than the Polo R. And at the end of the day, all the money goes to the VW Group regardless so what difference does it make?

[anonymous-user]

In before the WRC is boring/bring back group B brigade.

[nickfrog]

Krikkit said:

nickfrog said:

I assume you do realise it has nothing to do with a Polo, apart from those four letters.

Don't they start with the bodyshell to make these cars? After that, utterly agreed.

Yes true but I assume that they MIG weld it to death ? Does someone know ?

[anonymous-user]

Oh by the way that is Latvala not Ogier.....

[RX7]

nickfrog said:

I assume you do realise it has nothing to do with a Polo, apart from those four letters.

Haha, no i have just landed on this planet!!!!

Yes of course i realise this and quite frankly i dont care what is underneath the silhouette we see here, but that is my point entirely, the only thing i can associate it with is a dull Polo, just like i have no interest in seeing a Mini on a wrc stage, even a Ds3 or Fiesta!

I grew up with Group B madness but would be more than happy with a few generations on and seeing Impreza's, Evos or Celicas, at least when i saw one of them on the road it conjured up fantastic images of what i just seen on tv at the weekend pounding through the forest!

I doubt i would even notice a Polo on the roads and if i did, it certainly wouldnt fill me enthusiasm to go and see it in the forest or like this photo, let alone buy one! Will sales of Polos go up if Ogier wins this year, not a chance, did sales of Evos go up when Tommi Makinonen was winning in the woods, yes of course.

[nickfrog]

RX7 said:

nickfrog said:

I assume you do realise it has nothing to do with a Polo, apart from those four letters.

Haha, no i have just landed on this planet!!!!

LOL. Sorry.

[toppstuff]

Look at the gap around the wheel arches !

That car needs to be stanced.

[StottyZr]

Any video of this? I can't find one

[GroundEffect]

nickfrog said:

I assume you do realise it has nothing to do with a Polo, apart from those four letters.

With the S2000 regs they do, actually.

[VictoriaYorks]

GravelMachineGun said:

Oh by the way that is Latvala not Ogier.....

[Scrof]

GravelMachineGun said:

Oh by the way that is Latvala not Ogier.....

You are, of course, right. My mistake! Blame my eyesight...

[ArnageWRC]

Twincam16 said:

IMO they should have based it on the Audi A1. Not only do you have the cache of all those Quattro associations, but the A1 Quattro is closer in spirit to a WRC car than the Polo R. And at the end of the day, all the money goes to the VW Group regardless so what difference does it make?

Audi don't do Rallying. It no longer fits their marketing/ road relevant strategy. They are now a Premium brand, which the WRC isn't about. But I know were you are coming from.

[Itsallicanafford]

...is this the 1.6 polo or the 1.4

[EDLT]

GravelMachineGun said:

In before the WRC is boring/bring back group B brigade.

Nope, too late. The only thing PH hates more than Top Gear is motorsport that isn't F1.

[soad]

RX7 said:

Fantastic photo, it truly is, but i feel saddened to say i cant get excited over a Polo. Yes it is a WRC car in full flight and that should be all that is required, but i cant get excited about it and i want to, very frustrating!

I know how you feel. Does nothing for me either.