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Two Finns on the winners’ podium in Mexico - Mikko Hirvonen third

Ford’s Finnish drivers Marcus Grönholm and Mikko Hirvonen raced impressively to take places on the podium in the Mexican stage of the World Rally Championship. Grönholm raced his way to second place in the season’s first championship race on gravel, while Hirvonen came in third, and defending world champion Sebastien Loeb, driving a Citroen, came first.

Loeb led Grönholm during the 366-kilometres of the 20-stage rally by 55.8 seconds. Hirvonen was 1.27.70 from the top spot but beat his closest rival, Spain’s Daniel Sordon, by 16 seconds, who came fourth.

Grönholm continues to lead the World Championship, four points ahead of Loeb, who is placed second. Hirvonen is in third place, two points behind Loeb.

“Loeb managed to get two points off us, but we are still leading both series,” said Grönholm, referring to the team championship competition, in which Ford leads Citroen.

Finnish speed on decision day

The top places in the competition were effectively settled before the four last stages of the final day. As Loeb ensured his victory, Grönholm and Hirvonen evenly split the fastest stage times for Sunday’s stages, two each.

Hirvonen’s stage time for the 17th special stage allowed him to overtake Sordon, who until then had been third, allowing Hirvonen to hold this position until the end.

Loeb, who clinched his second victory of the season, repeated his win in Mexico last season.

He was also fastest in Monte Carlo, the season opener. In Mexico, Loeb led the competition on Friday by the 6th stage when Norway’s Petter Solberg, who was leading in a new Subaru, had to withdraw because of an oil leak.

Grönholm’s speed could not help him to take the lead, but he continued to improve until the end of the race.

“Friday wasn’t looking too good, but we recovered. The competition wasn’t bad with respect to the tyres. Nearly all the top drivers in the special stages chose the same tyres,” said Grönholm.

Hirvonen was disappointed at having spun off the road

Hirvonen, who won the season’s previous world championship competition in Norway, was still disappointed after spinning off the road on Saturday, during the 11th special stage.

“I'm annoyed at having spun off because it meant that we could not compete for second spot. However, we were able to keep up with Marcus for almost two days.

“It seems that we will get closer to Marcus’ speed. So we won’t have to embarrass ourselves in rallies on gravel,” said Hirvonen. Hirvonen’s navigator, Jarmo Lehtinen, considers spinning off as part and parcel of the nature of rally racing.

“When driving at those speeds, these things can happen. Loeb spun off during the previous world championship rally in Norway on two occasions, today it was our turn.”