WRC: Gronholm wants driver equality at Ford

[Plex]

Former double world rally champion Marcus Gronholm believes Ford should give Jari-Matti Latvala equal status in the team and allow him to fight for the World Rally Championship this season.

Latvala took his maiden win in Rally Sweden in February and lies just five points behind team leader Mikko Hirvonen and four behind reigning champion Sebastien Loeb.

"Mikko is in a difficult position now," Gronholm told this week's Autosport. "He thought his was the number one but Jari-Matti has come along and driven at the same speed as him.

"For the moment, I don't think Malcolm (Wilson, team principal) has anything to worry about. He can let the boys go off and drive, but there's no need to keep Mikko number one when they can be at the same level.

"One thing is clear, though, it seems they don't need me any more."

Ford team boss Wilson told Autosport that Latvala's progression has surprised him, but there won't be a switch in the team's focus.

"We all knew about his speed, but the way he's developed is amazing. He's doing now what I hoped he'd be doing in the second half of the season.

"But we know what Mikko can do for us, he's done an incredible job for this team. He's going to want to go and push in Argentina this weekend but it could be tough for him to run first on the road again.

"He just has to get on with it. With these rule changes running first is part of the learning curve. He knows what he's got to do, he's got to accept it and raise his game."

Autosport