Finnish Jari-Matti Latvala (right) and co-driver Mikka Anttila raise their trophies next to their Wolkswagen Polo R WRC during the podium ceremony of the Portugal WRC Rally.
Finland’s Jari-Matti Latvala held on to win the Rally of Portugal on Sunday ahead of his Volkswagen teammate Sebastien Ogier.
The Norwegian Andreas Mikkelsen in a Polo-R took third place in what was the fifth leg of the World Rally Championship season.
Frenchman Ogier, the championship leader had been looking to win the Portugal rally for a joint record fifth time, but his second place gave him the consolation of increasing his lead in the overall standings, having won three in a row to start the year.
Ogier now has 105 points against 63 points for Mikkelsen who has moved ahead of compatriot Mads Ostberg (Citroen) who has 57.
Latvala’s win was the 13th of his career and revives his hopes for the year after he had previously placed second at Monte-Carlo behind two-time defending world champion Ogier.
His win gives him 46 points and puts him in fifth place just behind Northern Irishman Kris Meeke, the surprise winner in Argentina last month.
