Time's Up for Latvala...

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Originally Posted by A.F.F.

Now Malcom has invested so much on Latvala they just can't sack him but he has got to do something.

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You what... Malcolm invested in JML?? Yes, time, but while taking €10m off his managment over the years.

I mentioned it before, maybe its MW managment style, and the fact the JML its still paying to drive a Ford. Why not pay the fella a wage, and give him some self-worth. Put your money where you mouth is, and just hire him like anyother profession, instead of bleeding Finland dry.

If MW is TOTALLY SERIOUS about winning he would put JML in the Stobart team for the reast of the year, and pay Petter £100K a rally to drive in his place. Simple.

As I said in the Poland thread, is JML a paid or paying driver? Some of the Finnish forum members must know for sure, if he is a 'paying' driver, where does his benefactor get his money from?

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Originally Posted by JAM

I saw this video a couple of times, and from de in-car camera i can't see a big mistake from JMLatvala. I see more faster a failure form the car than from Latvala.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbGR2dsyakQ

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my god....i just saw the video....wilson waiting with the champagne in his hand is just priceless :D :D :D :D

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Originally Posted by A.F.F.

That is exactly what I have thought. In the past drivers were more mature before entering to top level of rallying.

Today it seem that you're too old as over 25 :eek:

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If we look at the sport over the decades then it was always much later that guys got into VM.
It was same in moto-cross. When I was young I had a chance to talk with the VM elit--Hallman, Åberg, Kring, Jonsson, Hansen, Mikkola Heikki, DeCoster and Bickers---and asked them about the age thing because in the US everybody would say if you're not a full time professional by 19 then you're already a "has been". All of them said don't worry, it takes 10 years to gather the experience and the mental toughness, so get serious first after you're 25-26. Then you have a max of about 10 years.

I was very puzzled by the rather recent trend of very very young drivers almost directly into the top of VM.

It's marketing. The target market is 14-24 You-tube generation. Got to have boys that aren't too old looking.

It was once an man's sport.
Oi oi oi.....

http://www.wrc.com/jsp/index.jsp?lnk...20a%20lifeline

If he makes a mistake this time he probably will not get another chance.

Having viewed the video of the crash, immediate post crash response and interview from Malcolm stating that 'at this momemt in time Jari Matti will drive a BP Ford in Finland' I just think the reason for this is that the entries have closed and only one of teh 3 elements, car, driver and co-driver can be changed. Also the rally after Finland is Australia, and Atkinson is waiting.......
Chris' manager is Paul Turner, same manager as Markko Martin. By my guessing I think we could see Atko in JML's seat in Australia, maybe a tarmac driver in Spain, and who knows in GB?
Unless JML performs exceptionally well on NORF, and that means 2nd to Mikko without a scratch on the car, I think its over for him. And that will be a great shame, as I beleive in him still. I also think he was in the wrong team, Prodrive would have been better than MSport in their development of a driver.

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Originally Posted by Langdale Forest

I think that he will reverse into Mikko's car in the service park, or loose controll in a time controll. :uhoh:

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LOL!

Anyway, in current quite weak competition consistency is probably more important than anything and hence endless mistakes are unacceptable. Heck, even 'consistent' Wilson is losing to JML only by 6 points! That said, due to his youth JML can't be completely written off, so it may be wise to send him to Stobart for maturing.

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Originally Posted by Camelopard

As I said in the Poland thread, is JML a paid or paying driver? Some of the Finnish forum members must know for sure, if he is a 'paying' driver, where does his benefactor get his money from?

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That's something I've wondering too, so many seems to know JML's seat is bought with big sum of euros but I can't figure out from where they could get that kind of money in Finland?

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Originally Posted by DonJippo

That's something I've wondering too, so many seems to know JML's seat is bought with big sum of euros but I can't figure out from where they could get that kind of money in Finland?

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Have you checked how much Jouhki alone makes/year + what his investments are worth. Sieltä niitä senttejä tulee...

Yep, times up. Needs to go back to Stobart while a driver more capable of finishing rallies is put into the Ford seat.