Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team star Mikko Hirvonen says he can take plenty of positives from his Jordan Rally appearance, despite losing his title lead on the Middle East event.
Hirvonen and co-driver Jarmo Lehtinen took the start at the Dead Sea resort last Friday equal on points with Sebastien Loeb and Daniel Elena at the top of the drivers’ standings.
But the combination of having to sweep the road clear of the loose surface gravel on day one by virtue of leading the championship, plus failed powersteering on Friday’s final test, dropped Hirvonen out of contention for a podium finish.
However, by setting two fastest stage times on Saturday he was able to climb to fourth overall and completed the rally with the second fastest time on the event-closing Power Stage to land two additional bonus points, which means he trails Loeb by two points starting next month’s Rally d’Italia Sardegna.
“I tried to look after my tyres so that I had maximum grip for the Power Stage,” said the 30-year-old Finn, who won the Jordan Rally in 2008 when it first appeared on the WRC calendar. “I thought I had done enough to take full bonus points, but lost by a few hundredths of a second. It was a difficult weekend because I spent so many kilometres [on day one] sweeping the road, but I’m pleased to have come out of it in a strong position in the championship. Two fastest times gave me a good boost and showed that the pace of the [Ford Fiesta RS WRC] is extremely strong.”
While Hirvonen might have dropped behind Loeb in the race for the world crown, he will start the Italian gravel event in the knowledge that he won’t have to open the road for the chasing crews on the first day of the WRC qualifier.
The event is based in Olbia and runs from 5-8 May. It forms round five of the 13-event WRC season.
Credit: World Rally Championship (www.wrc.com)
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