Jari Matti Latvala was widely and deservedly acclaimed for his first world rally victory at the age of 22 years but was he the youngest, or in fact the oldest, driver to score a first time win...? JM entered 53 world rallies before an outright victory came to him, four more than his teammate Hirvonen and eight more than Petter Solberg. So, who was the real "youngest"? Timo Salonen's first win came after only four previous events, Didier Auriol and Walter Rohrl after six. Many drivers in the olden times had gained successes in world level events before the world series itself was inaugurated. And there were fewer world rallies in a season, so drivers were busy winning non championship events between the world rallies. Sebastien's records can show he is nothing special, a middle of the road driver, with 21 previous events, as was fellow four times champion Tommi Makinen with 24. Juha Kankkunen, the other four times champion was "younger", with ten previous rallies. Well, Jari Matti needs to wear corrective spectacles when he is driving on stages, and so did Timo Salonen, so eyesight is obviously nothing to do with "age.

3mmm