feedback | search

Hirvonen chases a top place

16 May 2007

Ford’s Mikko Hirvonen will attempt to be among the top two spots on the gravel roads of Sardinia. The route for the Italian stage of the WRC has been changed considerably since last year. The nature of the rally, however, is still as tough as before. The competition has narrow, fast and bumpy, and stony special stages baked in blistering heat.

“Half of the sections are new compared with last year. But it won't change this rally in any way. The first cars lose time because of the loose gravel on the surface of the road, but for the drivers coming behind the surface of the stony and bumpy road is clean. The roads are hard on the tyres and suspension and are generally fast,” says Hirvonen

“The biggest challenge in terms of driving is the narrowness of the streets. The sides of the road are so stony that they don’t help in finding your course. You might come a cropper. You just have to drive precisely and fast ‘in the middle of the road’. It’s best to try and spare the tyres, although in practice there is not much room to do that.”

The key location for the Italian stage of the WRC is in Olbia, Sardinia’s industrial centre. The start and finishing points are in the wonderful tourist spot of Porto Cervo. The route has 18 special stages with a total length of 342.86 kilometres.

“My aim is to really challenge Marcus Grönholm and Sebastien Loeb. This was a successful tactic this season in Sweden, Norway and Mexico. However, in the previous leg in Argentina I wasn't aggressive enough in my driving. Now I'm ready to show that is no longer the case,” says Hirvonen, who came second in Sardinia last year.

Coming into the Italian WRC, Loeb leads the series with a three point lead over Grönholm. Hirvonen is eight points behind Grönholm in third place.

Liverpool to win

After the rally in Sardinia, Hirvonen’s schedule continues with test drives in Greece and on 23 May he is Ford’s guest at the Olympic Stadium in Athens in support of Liverpool FC in the final of the UEFA Champions League.

“It’ll be fantastic to be there supporting Sami (Hyypiä) and Liverpool,” says Hirvonen.

The competition days for the Sardinian rally are 18–20 May.