Rally drivers line up for WRC thriller in Wales starting tonight
publication date: Oct 22, 2009
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author/source: Robin Roberts
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After 11 rounds, 219 speed tests and 3774.37km of competition, Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen's challenge for the FIA World Rally Championship drivers' title will be decided at the final event in Wales this week. The BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team duo start Rally of Great Britain today with a single point advantage in their Focus RS World Rally Car, as the series readies itself for its most exciting finale for several years. The Finns face a head-to-head showdown with season-long rival Sébastien Loeb. Irrespective of where they finish, whichever driver is the highest on the leaderboard when the rally returns to Cardiff after three days of flat-out driving on gravel tracks in mid- and south Wales will lift the crown. Team-mates and fellow countrymen Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila will provide crucial support in another Focus RS WRC and both pairings have a good record over the Welsh forest roads. Hirvonen won in 2007 while Latvala secured second last season. All 16 special stages are held on narrow but fast privately-owned gravel tracks, more commonly used by lorries transporting timber. The rally is six weeks earlier than last year and a continuation of the dry and warm autumn in Britain could remove the event's traditionally most difficult challenge – unpredictable weather. Tree-lined sections high in the hilly forests contrast with wide-open stretches and while ice and snow is highly unlikely in October, fog could be present if the weather worsens. In gloomy conditions it hangs between the trees, while also throwing a white blanket across exposed areas on higher ground. Hirvonen, who has four wins to his credit this season, remains calm about the challenge ahead. "I feel really excited about the situation and can't wait for the rally to start, but I don't feel any pressure. It will be a hard fight and I don't underestimate the job I need to do. But I have no expectations and because of that I've taken the pressure off myself and put it to one side," he said. "Although I've won there before, this rally hasn't always been kind to me, but I do enjoy the roads in Wales and know them well. They're fast and flowing, even quicker than my home event in Finland in places. “If I had to choose a rally on which to fight for the title then Finland would be my first choice. But Britain would be second on the list. I love driving there and the roads really suit me. At this time of year they won't be covered in ice or snow, so they should be perfect," added 29-year-old Hirvonen. | |
Q&A with FIA World Rally Championship leader Mikko Hirvonen How does it feel to be leading the championship with only one round to go? It feels great but I have led the championship before. I've just not led it with only one event to go! I'm trying not to think about until the rally is over in Cardiff. Hopefully the team will be having a big party though. Are you feeling under pressure? Not at the moment, no. It's just really exciting. I actually have a chance to win and I'm keeping my feet firmly on the ground. It will be a hard fight though, I'm not underestimating the job I need to do in Wales. But I have no expectations at all and that way I've taken the pressure away, I've put it on the side. We've had a good feeling for the last six events and I've proved things to myself that I needed to do. That's also taken some of the pressure away. At what point this year did you feel you could challenge Loeb and take the title? I started the season thinking I could do it. Then when we retired from Argentina and we scored no points, I virtually gave up. It was only after we won in Greece that I started to hope again. But in Poland after Loeb went off and we moved into the championship lead, I knew we were back in the fight. So Poland was the big turning point in my mind. I always knew it would be difficult though – he's five-times champion! Has anything changed in your mind since last year? Nothing has changed. I knew I could challenge him if we had perfect rallies and with one more year of experience and confidence behind us. We've driven some really good rallies this season. Even when he was winning events, we were right behind him in second place. I've challenged him on so many stages and I knew I could do it. What have you been doing since Spain two weeks ago? Immediately after the rally I did a passenger ride event for BP and Castrol in Spain. I've been spending some time with my family and done quite a few media interviews and appearances. We've tested in Cumbria this week to find a good set up for Rally GB and I'm feeling comfortable with the car. We're driving in the Cambrian Rally as a course car this weekend. The roads are similar to those we're going to experience in Rally GB, so good experience after the asphalt in Spain. I won the Cambrian back in 2002 so I'm looking forward to going back there. If you had a choice of any event on which to challenge Loeb, what would it be? It would have to be Finland. On your home event, you have an added confidence and knowledge of the roads. Rally GB would be definitely be second on the list though. It's a fantastic event and I love driving there. The roads really suit me. They are fast and flowing and at this time of year they won't be covered in ice or snow, so they should be perfect. Are you concerned at all about starting Rally GB first on the road? No, not at all. It's not the sort of rally where there is a massive difference between running first, second or third on the road. If it's really muddy then first on the road is the best place to be and if it's dry and dusty then first is also best. So I'm happy with starting first. | |
Thursday 22 October: Ceremonial start Start Roald Dahl Plass, Cardiff 19.00 Friday 23 October: Day 1 Cardiff - Cardiff Start Cardiff 06.00 SS1 Hafren 1 32.14km 09.23 SS2 Sweet Lamb 1 5.13km 10.04 SS3 Myherin 1 27.88km 10.22 RSZ A Builth Wells (15 mins) 12.05 SS4 Hafren 2 32.14km 13.31 SS5 Sweet Lamb 2 5.13km 14.12 SS6 Myherin 2 27.88km 14.30 Serv B Cardiff (45 mins) 18.16 Finish Cardiff 19.01 Total 130.30km Saturday 24 October: Day 2 Cardiff - Cardiff Serv C Cardiff (15 mins) 07.10 SS7 Rhondda 1 35.72km 08.35 SS8 Crychan 1 14.99km 10.26 SS9 Halfway 1 18.37km 10.54 Serv D Cardiff (30 mins) 13.18 SS10 Rhondda 2 35.72km 14.58 SS11 Crychan 2 14.99km 16.49 SS12 Halfway 2 18.37km 17.17 Serv E Cardiff (45 mins) 19.33 Finish Cardiff 20.18 Total 138.16km Sunday 25 October: Day 3 Cardiff - Cardiff Serv F Cardiff (15 mins) 07.10 SS13 Port Talbot 1 17.41km 08.28 SS14 Rheola 1 22.51km 09.27 SS15 Port Talbot 2 17.41km 10.56 SS16 Rheola 2 22.51km 11.55 Serv G Cardiff (10 mins) 13.53 Finish Roald Dahl Plass, Cardiff 14.35 Total 79.84km Rally total 348.30km | |
| Racer Alex Jones was a finalist for Anglesey's "Sporting Champion of the Year", defined as "either an individual or a team that has excelled in his/her or their community during 2009 and become an example for others". Nominated as Sporting Champion for Anglesey, Alex was surprised, pleased, and very proud to win the "Overall Sporting Champion 2009" for the whole region of North West Wales. The award was presented by Bob Champion MBE, legendary Grand National winning jockey. Alex has been competing in the MSA Formula Ford Championship of Great Britain in just his second year of single seater racing. Against stiff competition from around the world he has consistently qualified in the top 6/8, achieved pole position at Knockhill and a 3rd place at Donington Park. Alex reports: “For 2010 I have the benefit of working with top driver/management team, Goman Sport, who will be advising and guiding me on several possible options that will build on my 2009 experiences and move my career forward. I'm really looking forward to it." | |