Finland, July 28 – Mikko Hirvonen is hoping home advantage will supply him with a winning hand in this weekend’s Rally of Finland.
In its 60 years of existence this ultra demanding leg of the world rally championship has only been won seven times by non-Finnish drivers, the last being Sebastien Loeb in 2008.
Hirvonen, who hails from Jyvaskyla the town around which the rally runs, captured it in 2009 but crashed out last year.
The 30-year-old said: “A win here is important, not only because I live close by but also because I need to get as many points on the board as I can.”
The Ford Focus driver is placed second in this year’s title race, 17 points behind multiple champion Loeb after seven of the 13 rallies.
Hirvonen’s fellow Finn and Ford Focus teammate Jari-Matti Latvala, for his part ventured that it helped to have nerves of steel in a contest where the slightest mistake can spell disaster.
“You have to control any feeling of fear,” said Latvala for whom this event signals a personal milestone being his 100th rally.
“The pace of this rally is so high that each error is magnified. To win here you need to drive perfectly from the first to the last bend.”
Loeb, vying for his fourth win of the season, agreed, the French champion saying: “When I won here in 2008 I had to be at 200 percent. It’s not my favorite circuit,” said the Citroen ace.
–Agencies