JARI-MATTI LATVALA

Double Win for Finnish Drivers -- But Not in F-1

Jari-Matti Latvala

Finnish rally drivers Jari-Matti Latvala and Mikko Hirvonen scored a stunning one-two win at the Rally of Italy in Sardinia on Sunday. Later Kimi Räikkönen placed third in the Monaco Grand Prix, his first podium appearance this season.

Latvala led the sixth leg of the World Rally Championship from start to finish for his second WRC win. Latvala finished nearly half a minute ahead of compatriot and Ford team-mate Mikko Hirvonen.

The 24-year-old Latvala's first win was in Sweden early last year - when he became the youngest ever winner of a WRC event.

French world champion and last year's winner Sebastien Loeb was fourth behind team-mate Petter Solberg due to a two-minute penalty because his map reader failed to use a seatbelt. The Frenchman had won the previous six races.

Hirvonen's second place win was particularly impressive. On Saturday, he lost time after almost colliding with two herds of wild horses in the eighth stage of the rally.

Season's Best Start for Räikkönen

Later Sunday, Formula One racer Kimi Räikkönen started in second place for the Monaco Grand Prix, his first front-row start this season. He qualified for the number-two spot beside championship leader Jenson Button of the UK, but was soon passed by Button's Brawn team-mate Rubens Barrichello. He spent virtually the entire race in third, on an urban track where it is notoriously difficult to overtake other drivers. Button went on to win the race, followed by Barrichello.

Ferrari's Räikkönen, who won the 2007 world championship, has not won a race in more than a year.

Another Finn, Heikki Kovalainen started in seventh, but crashed out in mid-race.