Injured Ford driver Jari-Matti Latvala has revealed how he did have a chance to compete on next week's Rally Argentina, but decided the risks were too great.
The Ford driver, who broke his collarbone in a skiing accident last week, spoke to surgeons in Helsinki after being operated upon and was told it was possible for him to get back behind the wheel of the Ford Fiesta RS WRC in South America.
"When I was in the hospital, I have really tried to say to the doctors: 'Please, help me as much as you can.' I really wanted to go there and compete in the rally," said Latvala. "The doctors told me there was a possibility to go to Argentina and drive, but they told me about the risk and I decided against it."
The problem centered on a steel plate which had been fitted to the broken collarbone just 18 hours after Latvala fell.
The Finn added: "The risk was that if the plate, which was fitted on top of the broken collarbone, moved or the screws came out then everything would have to be removed and then I would have to wait for the normal healing process which would be two or three months, which would mean I would have had to miss many more rallies than just Argentina. So, I decided not to take that risk. I miss the next rally, but after that I know I can do the rest of the season."
Latvala will be replaced by Spain's Dani Sordo, who has been released by Prodrive for the event.