Jari-Matti Latvala had a difficult start to the 2009 World Rally Championship season with mechanical issues, accidents and simple lack of pace all coming together to undermine his efforts. However, victory at Rally Sardinia was all it took to put the Finn back on the right track.

"Yes, it's been a difficult start of the year," the factory Ford driver admitted at the pre-event Acropolis Rally FIA press conference on Thursday. "A lot of accidents, but we found a good rhythm in Argentina and then we came to Sardinia and we were a bit lucky in the last day, when the other guys suffered in the dust. I took some time from them and won the rally."

"It was a big relief after a year and a half. It boosted my self-confidence," Latvala shared. "I really hope I have learned from those mistakes. Since we came to Argentina, correcting those small details with the notes, I think and I hope I am a little bit like a new man."

With the long gap between his first and second WRC victories, Latvala said he had his share of frustration when battles for the top step of the podium failed to deliver the goods: "When you win your rally, like when I won Sweden, it was good. But since then, I was fighting in a few rallies – like Turkey, also in Japan and then again in Wales - but I lost those battles."

"It makes you frustrated. You start to get negative comments, so that victory (in Sardinia) came in just the right moment. It's a more relaxed feeling now."

With this weekend's Greek round being the seventh out of twelve events on the 2009 WRC calendar, Latvala's objectives for the rest of the season do not include a title bid.

"If you look at the Drivers' Championship, I'm too far away," the Ford team driver recognised. "I try to bring points for the team to have a fight with Citroen. We are quite far way, but anything can happen."

And of, course, there is always the per-event objective: "I hope I will be able to fight for the victories in the coming rallies."