Rally Sweden: Ford throw down the challenge for 2010

BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team drivers Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen started the 2010 FIA World Rally Championship in style with victory in Rally Sweden yesterday.

The Finns won the opening round by 42.3sec in a Ford Focus RS World Rally Car after three days' competition in the ice-bound Scandinavian forests. The win moved Ford level at the top of the all-time standings with 74 WRC victories.

Team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila finished third in a similar Focus RS WRC, 1min 15.4sec behind their fellow Finns. The double podium gives the BP Ford Abu Dhabi squad a 10-point lead at the top of the manufacturers' standings after the first of 13 rounds.

Rally Sweden is the only true winter rally in the series. Drivers tackled 21 speed tests covering 345.15km in the Värmland region of central Sweden.

Temperatures plunged to -22ºC, but clear blue skies provided picture postcard scenery in the wintry forests.

"After losing the title last year by a point I knew I had to win more, rather than settle for consistent points finishes, so this is the ideal start," said Hirvonen. "It was a big win for us and I want many more this season. It's the first time I've won the opening round of the year.

The championship switches to gravel next month for the first of four rounds outside Europe. Rally Mexico is based in León on 4 - 7 March.

Rally Sweden final positions
1. M Hirvonen/J Lehtinen	Ford Focus RS	3hr 09min 30.4sec
2. S Loeb/D Elena	Citroen C4	3hr 10min 12.7sec
3. J-M Latvala/M Anttila	Ford Focus RS	3hr 10min 45.8sec
4. D Sordo/M Marti	Citroen C4	3hr 12min 12.0sec
5. S Ogier/J Ingrassia	Citroen C4	3hr 13min 45.7sec
6. H Solberg/I Minor	Ford Focus RS	3hr 15min 23.8sec
7. M Wilson/S Martin	Ford Focus RS	3hr 17min 24.3sec
8. M Østberg/J Andersson	Subaru Impreza	3hr 18min 52.6sec
9. P Solberg/P Mills	Citroen C4	3hr 19min 47.9sec
10 P-G Andersson/A Fredriksson	Skoda Fabia	3hr 21min 49.3sec

World Rally Championship

Drivers			Manufacturers
1.	M Hirvonen	25pts	BP Ford Abu Dhabi	40pts
2.	S Loeb	18pts	Citroen Total	30pts
3.	J-M Latvala	15pts	Citroen Junior	14pts
4.	D Sordo	12pts	Stobart M-Sport Ford	14pts