Jari-Matti Latvala gets home victory at FIA World Rallycross Finland

Jari-Matti Latvala claimed victory at the FIA World Rally Championship in front of his home crowd in Jyväskylä, Finland on Sunday, beating out Volkswagen teammate SébastienOgier of France by 3.6 seconds for the win.

Jari-Matti Latvala celebrates at the FIA World Rally Championship.

Victor Engström/Red Bull Content Pool

It was the first time in four years that Finland hosted the event and Latvala said he was determined to win for the sake of the fans and his country’s national sport.

Heading into the final rounds of the 26-stage event on Sunday, Latvala won 13 of the opening 19 stages, but led by only 3.4 seconds after a broken front right brake caliper on Saturday caused him to lose a 31 second advantage. After fixing his Polo R, Latvala was able to edge out Ogier and take home his eleventh World Rally Championship victory of his career for his country.

Sebastien Ogier races during the FIA World Rally Championship.

Jarno Schurgers/Red Bull Content Pool

Overall, Latvala is 44 points ahead in the standings with five events remaining. Rounding out the field was Irishman Kris Meeke in third place in a Citroen DS3, Andreas Mikkelsen with a fourth place finish in another Polo R and former winner Mikko Hirvonen finishing fifth in a Fiesta RS.

The next round takes place in Germany between August 21 and 24.