Evgeny Novik✅ov was philosophical after narrowly missing out on a podium finish on Rally Argentina.

Novikov went into the final day of the fifth round in the 2013 FIA World Rally Championship just 8.5 seconds up on Jari-Matti Latvala, but despite a valiant effo🅺rt, the young Russian unfortunately had to forfeit his third place on the pꩲenultimate test.

He then suffered a spin in the event ending Power Stage, and finished more than 30 secon🍨ds back in fourth.

"To be honest, I think that♌ it was all over after the third stage today [SS13]," explained the Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team man.

"We were pushing hard, but Jari-Matti took a lot of time out of us and we und♏erstood then that we should let the podium go and concentrate on getting to the end of the event𓆏.

"I actually backed off in the Power Stage [SS14] and maybe because of that I lost a bit of concentration and had a spin in the stage - not because we were pushing; because I slowed down too much. But it was never our plan to fight on that stage so it wasn't too much of a drama.

"Of course it would have been nice to have come away with a pod🌌ium, but fourth place is still a very good result for us on this rally. I think it was the best we could do today. I want to thank Jari-Matti for the fight - I really𓆉 enjoyed it and I'm sure everybody else did too!"