Finland's Jari-Matti Latvala became the youngest driver in the history of the championship to win a WRC event by claiming victory in the Swedish Rally which finished this morning New Zealand time.

The 22-year-old finished the rally 58.3 seconds ahead of BP Ford team-mate and new championship leader Mikko Hirvonen, while the Stobart Ford of Italian Gigi Galli finished third.

Latvala's victory on the second round of the FIA World Rally Championship eclipses the late Henri Toivonen's win on the 1980 RAC Rally in Britain when the Finn was 24-years-old.  "Henri Toivonen was a big hero of mine and in my dreams I wanted to beat his record, so this means so much to me," an excited Latvala said Monday.

"I couldn't have dreamed I could win on only my second event in a works team, especially after such a disappointing start to the year in Monte Carlo last month. I can't really find the words to describe my feelings. I never thought I would win this weekend and it was only this morning that I started to realise I could do it.

"I started the rally so well on Friday and made no mistakes so I was able to control my speed. I felt comfortable in the car all weekend and the whole team has a reason to celebrate today," he said.

The man Latvala replaced at the BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team paid tribute to his young countryman's success.

"This is an incredible day for Jari-Matti and one he will never forget," said Marcus Grönholm, winner of 30 WRC events. "He is part of rallying's new generation and he and Mikko have great futures to look forward to in the sport."

Reigning world champion Sebastien Loeb put his Citroen off the road on day one, which ruined any chance of the Frenchman gaining championship points.

Hirvonen leads the standings after two rounds - claiming two second-place finishes to lead on 16 points from Latvala and Loeb (both on 10).

New Zealand's representation on the World Championship enjoyed a good weekend with the Neil Allport Motorsport-prepared Mitsubishi of Finland's Juho Hanninen romping to a win in the P-WRC production class and finishing eighth overall.

Hanninen beat nearest rival Jari Ketomaa by one minute and 23 seconds in the opening round of the P-WRC championship.

Round three of the World Championship in Mexico is the first pure gravel rally of the season and the first of three consecutive events outside Europe and gets underway in three weeks.

The championship heads to our own shores for Rally New Zealand on August 28-31.