Latvala would be the new Gronholm according to Sébastien Loeb

Sébastien Loeb recently stated in a foreign magazine that his main rival this 2008 season is not Mikko Hirvonen, No. 1 at BP Ford, but indeed Jari-Matti Latvala, whom he considers the new Marcus Gronholm.

The reigning world champion could have had an almost easy season this year since the 2007 retirement of his main rival in the driver’s championship, Marcus Gronholm. But the Frenchman has found new competitors to challenge and fight against in every rally.

Suspicions naturally focused initially on Mikko Hirvonen, who took the lead of the BP Ford team following Gronholm’s departure. However, the arrival of Latvala in the American-British team uncovered a new talent, already considered a future WRC rally world champion.

Latvala created a surprise in Sweden by winning the rally, while in Mexico he was a very serious contender for the win before Loeb took advantage of favorable circumstances (Starting in second position without sweeping the dusty track).

« Latvala has proven to be faster than Mikko [Hirvonen] and as fast if not faster than Marcus [Gronholm] », commented the Citroën driver to Motorsport News.

« In Mexico, I had to push myself to the maximum to get ahead of Latvala, a bit like I had to do constantly with Marcus… »

Hirvonen is still not considered dangerous by the four-time French world champion. The Finnish driver is indeed leading in the championship points, but he has not yet won a rally this season.

I don’t think anything has changed about Mikko [Hirvonen]. He wasn’t as fast as Marcus last year and now he’s not as fast as Jari-Matti [Latvala], explains the Alsatian.

« When I took the reins at Citroën as the number 1 driver, I didn’t try to find out what my responsibilities were or what I had to do. I tried to go as fast as possible and be the best, that’s what a number one in a team should do. » He concluded.