Welcome back, Jari-Matti

What’s not to like about Jari-Matti Latvala’s return to WRC action – he is as fast as ever but also seems to be more collected and focused as well. It’s almost as if doctors not only sticthed his shoulder together with some metal bits and pieces but also his self-confidence and control as well.

As the things stand after first loop of stages in Greece, Jari-Matti is in full charge and is giving Sebastien Loeb a run for his money. At the same time, Frenchman is just doing what he does best – drive flat out and keep things tidy and under control. We’ve seen him do that so many times, and it’s beyond great to see him still in full grasp of things after he has done it so many times. This guy is one tough veteran.

With Loeb’s advantage being reduced to just 2.2 seconds it’s anyone’s guess what can happen next. Either way, Petter Solberg leads the rest of the field and is ready to collect the prisoners if needed. He is 20.1 seconds behind Loeb and 46 seconds ahead of Mikko Hirvonen. The latter is not enjoying his time in Greece and with host of issues is struggling to keep in touch with the leaders.