Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team driver Mikko Hirvonen hopes that not having to run first on the road on day one of Rally d'Italia Sardegna will boost his chances of returning to the world championship winners' circle.
The 30-year-old Finn hasn’t tasted victory since Rally Sweden back in February. Having dropped behind Sebastien Loeb in the WRC drivers’ classification after last month’s Jordan Rally, Hirvonen will no longer have to clear the road for those running behind, something he’s had to do for the last three events.
“The surface is sandier than most European gravel rallies, so it’s an advantage for me not to be first in the start order for the first time on gravel this season,” said Hirvonen. “I struggled with that in Jordan on the first day, while trying to find the right car set-up, but two fastest times on the second day was a confidence boost. The Fiesta [RS WRC] feels fantastic on gravel and the speed it has shown on the loose indicates we should be fully competitive everywhere.”
Hirvonen, a mere two points adrift of Loeb in the title standings heading to the fifth round of the season, has finished runner-up in Sardinia on the last four occasions.
“The roads are narrow and there is no defined edge to them, so instead of having a ditch to mark the side of the track, there are bushes, trees or rocks which add extra difficulty,” he said.
Ford team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala won in Sardinia in 2009 and starts the event on the back of losing out on victory in Jordan by a mere two-tenths of a second, the closest finish in the history of the WRC.
“At least this is the WRC and I have only had to wait three weeks for the next rally. If it had been the Olympic Games, I would have had a four-year wait!” said the 26-year-old from Finland. “I enjoy driving in this rally and my disappointment after Jordan has increased my motivation for this event. I’m hungry to win. I have a favourable start position for the first leg, and I need to use it well to be in a position to challenge for a win on the final day.”
Credit: World Rally Championship (www.wrc.com)
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