Young talented drivers

[noel157]

Not a great driver? I repeat. Well, he hasn´t made the first place. But still - not a great driver? The way people go in order to ashieve their goals vary. In his case he had better conditions than most others. Anything wrong with that?

A great driver (or not) wasn't my point. Personally I do think he is a great(ish) driver and yes, different people do things differently to achieve their goals but after 144 WRC starts in 13 years, factory drives and plenty of budget he's taking his time to achieve his goal.
As NOT said, Ogier popped up and pushed him to the sidelines. In my view he has either wasted the chances he has had, and currently has, or he is not the full package. Perhaps a Hirvonen like driver but slightly better.

[Doon]

Latvala is a faster driver (sometimes), but not a better driver than Hirvonen.

Hirvonen made the most of his opportunities and ability, and was closer to actually netting a WRC championship than Latvala ever has been. I can't see Latvala ever winning a championship, especially not on merit.

[Rallyper]

Judging Latvala only on Ogiers abilities and what he´d done? You should compare to more drivers to be serious. SO has done a faster travel up to top, for sure. But judging others compared to that isn´t fair.

[noel157]

Latvala is a faster driver (sometimes), but not a better driver than Hirvonen.

Hirvonen made the most of his opportunities and ability, and was closer to actually netting a WRC championship than Latvala ever has been. I can't see Latvala ever winning a championship, especially not on merit.

Point taken. Poor comparison by me.

[AndyRAC]

Great is an overused word. He is a very good driver, capable of great performances. However, as Noel has said, too many times we hear him complain about “no feeling, no rhythm, etc “
This year is his best chance for the Title – he has to take it.
I also think if he wasn't Finnish he'd have been dropped whilst at M-Sport.

[AdvEvo]

Money brings you further then talent in motorsports these days!

[N.O.T]

Money brings you further then talent in motorsports these days!

depends how you define "further" though...

[Ounin]

I don't think it's up to this topic naming older Finnish drivers who are driving WRC for many years or just quit. And the name Ogier pops up too many times. It's about young talents here and their abilities to enter into ERC or WRC. And being successful.
Motorsport is very expensive and unfair and always was and always will be. As wel as drivers who will be shoved on to us, no shocking news to me. Motorsport is a big industry and its existence is there only because of the many rich drivers entering and not a dozen talented ones. Put romantics aside to ovoid too much hypocrisy here.
I am more interested in the talents we see around us everywhere in the world and how they manage to progress, how difficult it is, rather than calling names of Finns who haven't fulfill big budget expectations.

[AndyRAC]

Money brings you further then talent in motorsports these days!

It depends on what motorsport you take part in....Some still value talent over £$£$£$£$

[Rallyper]

If you aint got talent all the money in the world wouldn´t get you in a WRC-team and getting WDC silver medalist. Talent in combination with money gets you further for sure...