17.8.2008 - Hirvonen leads Ford's double points finish in Germany
BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team secured a double points finish in Rallye Deutschland today after a difficult weekend on Germany's asphalt roads. Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen finished fourth in a Ford Focus RS World Rally Car, with team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila claiming fifth on this 10th round of the FIA World Rally Championship.
The result meant the lead of the drivers' championship changed hands for the sixth time in the enthralling battle for the title between Hirvonen and Sébastien Loeb. Loeb regained top spot by just four points from Hirvonen with five rounds remaining. In the manufacturers' series, the battle is just as tense with Ford lying second, eight points from the lead.
Trier, Germany's oldest city, hosted this first foray onto asphalt since January's opening road in Monte Carlo. Three days of competition covering 352.89km comprised narrow and bumpy vineyard tracks on the banks of the Mosel river, flowing roads through the Saarland countryside and demanding tank training tracks in the Baumholder military area. Frequent surface changes posed tough challenges for both the drivers and Pirelli's PZero tyres but the forecast heavy rain failed to materialise, removing one difficulty from competitors' minds.
Hirvonen, for whom asphalt is his least-favoured surface, ended Friday's opening leg in second on the debut of the 2008-specification Focus RS WRC. He slipped to third yesterday but punctured a rear tyre after hitting a hole in the final few kilometres to drop into fourth behind François Duval. He fought tooth and nail to catch the Belgian on today's final leg in the vineyards, comprising five speed tests and 84.97km of competition, but could not close the gap, ending 10.1sec behind.
"I was on the limit this morning to try to catch Duval," admitted Hirvonen. "I had a big escape. I had a corner marked in my notes with a small cut, but I took a big cut. It was a high-speed bend and the car was up on two wheels for a long time. It was close! On the third stage I saw I was three seconds down on Duval at the third split section and decided to ease off and settle for fourth. I didn't want to make any mistakes chasing third and risk losing what I had.
"I set some great stage times on Friday and with a bit more consistency I will be able to fight for a top- place on this surface, but I couldn't match the speed of the top two here. But I feel my asphalt driving has improved and it was unfortunate I lost time with a puncture last night," he added.
BP Ford Abu Dhabi team director Malcolm Wilson said: "We made a good start on Friday with a terrific performance from Mikko. But a lack of experience on the most difficult asphalt rally in the championship, with a constantly changing road surface, resulted in us not taking as many points as we would have liked. However, the drivers have learned a lot for the final two rallies on this surface."
Ford of Europe motorsport director Mark Deans looked forward to the next round in New Zealand. "We've relinquished the lead in the manufacturers' championship here but the fight to win it back begins in New Zealand in a fortnight. The gravel roads there are more favoured by our drivers and we'll look to reclaim the series lead immediately," he said.
News from our Rivals
Sébastien Loeb (Citroen) claimed his seventh consecutive German victory, finishing 47.7sec ahead of team-mate Dani Sordo, despite stalling his engine on the second stage. Stobart driver François Duval (Ford) claimed the final podium place on his second appearance of the season after winning four stages today. Behind Hirvonen, Petter Solberg (Subaru) took fifth ahead of team-mate Chris Atkinson, who dropped 40sec after he stalled on the opening stage and then struggled with a broken damper.
Next round
BP Ford Abu Dhabi faces its longest journey of the season when the championship returns to gravel on Rally New Zealand. The third event this month is based in Hamilton on 28 - 31 August.
Final positions
1. S Loeb/D Elena FRA Citroen C4 3hr 26min 19.7sec
2. D Sordo/M Marti ESP Citroen C4 3hr 27min 07.4sec
3. F Duval/P Pivato BEL Ford Focus RS 3hr 27min 39.7sec
4. M Hirvonen/J Lehtinen FIN Ford Focus RS 3hr 27min 49.8sec
5. P Solberg/P Mills NOR Subaru Impreza 3hr 28min 55.0sec
6. C Atkinson/S Prévot AUS Subaru Impreza 3hr 31min 05.6sec
7. H Solberg/C Menkerud NOR Ford Focus RS 3hr 31min 55.9sec
8. U Aava/K Sikk EST Citroen C4 3hr 31min 57.5sec
9. J-M Latvala/M Anttila FIN Ford Focus RS 3hr 32min 36.9sec
10 T Gardemeister/T Tuominen FIN Suzuki SX4 3hr 33min 36.5sec
16.8.2008 - Last stage drama leaves Hirvonen in final day fight for podium
BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team drivers Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen face a final leg tussle for a podium finish on Rallye Deutschland after a difficult day's driving over Germany's tricky asphalt speed tests. The Finns fought hard for second in their Ford Focus RS World Rally Car until they hit a hole and punctured in the final few kilometres. They lost 45sec and dropped to fourth with just the shortest day's competition remaining in this 10th round of the FIA World Rally Championship.
Team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila are ninth after rolling their Focus RS WRC this morning and struggling to regain their confidence during the afternoon special stages. Both cars remain in points-scoring positions for the current manufacturers' world championship leaders.
Today's action was located south-east of the rally base in Trier, Germany's oldest city, on a mix of flowing countryside roads in Saarland and the tank training roads of the Baumholder military area. Drivers tackled two identical loops of four tests covering 159.76km, each loop containing the daunting Panzerplatte stage - feared for its constantly changing surface and massive concrete 'hinkelstein' kerb stones which sit on the edge of the tracks and are designed to keep tanks on the roads.
Hirvonen began the day in second on the debut event for the 2008-specification Focus RS WRC. However, the 28-year-old was unable to match yesterday's pace and dropped to third behind Dani Sordo on the opening test. He struggled for rhythm and, despite battling hard to regain second, looked likely to end the day in third until he punctured his car's rear left tyre 8km from the end of the last stage. He will restart tomorrow just 3.9sec behind François Duval.
"I didn't have any rhythm and made many small mistakes," said a disappointed Hirvonen. "I didn't trust my pace notes first time through the stages so I was too cautious and that's where I lost time. If there was a cut at a corner, I seemed to back off to see how slippery it was. I need to be braver and I didn't have the confidence to drive flat out like yesterday. No matter how hard I drove, I couldn't match Sordo's times. The only difference from yesterday was that the stages had different characteristics. They were more like race circuit roads.
"On the final stage I hit a hole and the broken concrete punctured the rear tyre. I drove the final 8km on the wheel rim. I would have been happy to clear that stage and settle for third tomorrow. I dropped 45sec but there was no way I could have stopped to change it in that time so I made the right decision to continue. Now I need to fight against Duval tomorrow and that won't be easy," he added.
News from our Rivals
Sébastien Loeb (Citroen) dominated the day and won seven of the eight stages to extend his lead to 40.3sec over team-mate Dani Sordo, who won the other test. Stobart driver François Duval (Ford) claimed third after Hirvonen's final stage puncture, despite sliding into a corn field on the opening stage. Behind Hirvonen, team-mates Petter Solberg and Chris Atkinson (both Subaru) completed the top six, Atkinson's car losing its launch control system at the start of the final stage. Lower down the leaderboard Per-Gunnar Andersson (Suzuki) hit a kerb on the second stage this morning, damaging a rear wheel hub and suspension. He limped through the remaining morning tests, dropping more than five minutes and lies 16th.
Tomorrow's Route
The final day returns to the Mosel vineyards. After a 06.15 start, drivers tackle five tests covering 84.97km before the finish ceremony alongside Trier's historic Porta Nigra gate at 16.15. They face two loops of two stages in the vineyards before a spectacular test in the city streets around Porta Nigra.
Leaderboard after Day 2
1. S Loeb/D Elena FRA Citroen C4 2hr 32min 22.6sec
2. D Sordo/M Marti ESP Citroen C4 2hr 33min 02.9sec
3. F Duval/P Pivato BEL Ford Focus RS 2hr 34min 06.9sec
4. M Hirvonen/J Lehtinen FIN Ford Focus RS 2hr 34min 10.8sec
5. P Solberg/P Mills NOR Subaru Impreza 2hr 34min 51.3sec
6. C Atkinson/S Prévot AUS Subaru Impreza 2hr 35min 54.7sec
7. H Solberg/C Menkerud NOR Ford Focus RS 2hr 36min 56.0sec
8. U Aava/K Sikk EST Citroen C4 2hr 37min 19.7sec
9. J-M Latvala/M Anttila FIN Ford Focus RS 2hr 37min 22.3sec
10 T Gardemeister/T Tuominen FIN Suzuki SX4 2hr 38min 06.3sec
15.8.2008 - Ford raises a glass to Hirvonen's pace through Mosel vineyards
BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team drivers Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen produced an outstanding opening day performance on their least-favoured asphalt surface to hold second in Rallye Deutschland tonight. On the debut of the 2008-specification Ford Focus RS World Rally Car, the FIA World Rally Championship leaders lie 19.9sec off the lead after a shortened day's action in tricky vineyard speed tests on the banks of the Mosel river. Team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila are fifth in a similar Focus RS WRC after a solid and mature drive.
This 10th round of the year is the drivers' first taste of asphalt since the season-opener in Monte Carlo in January. Huge crowds flocked into the rally base in Trier, Germany's oldest city, last night for the start ceremony before the competition began in earnest this morning. Forecast rain failed to materialise and drivers enjoyed bright and sunny conditions throughout. However, dust and dirt on the narrow and bumpy vineyard roads made the tests slippery for all.
Drivers were due to tackle two identical loops of three special stages alongside the Mosel, covering 108.16km. However, the penultimate test was cancelled after 12 cars following an accident, before the final stage was scrapped for safety reasons after just three cars completed the test, due to the high volume of spectators lining the route.
Hirvonen, who opted for soft compound Pirelli tyres throughout the day, was engaged in an enthralling battle for second with acknowledged asphalt expert Dani Sordo. The 28-year-old Finn held third initially before closing on Sordo to end the opening loop tied in second. Sordo briefly regained the upper hand this afternoon, but Hirvonen claimed second in his own right on the penultimate stage with a superb time just one-tenth of a second slower than rally leader Sébastien Loeb.
"I've had a good feeling all day, especially this afternoon, and I'm having so much fun," said Hirvonen. "The speed was there this morning but on the second loop things went even better. There's not much more room before I start taking big risks but I will try to keep the pressure on Loeb tomorrow. I've made fast times on this rally before so my pace didn't surprise me, but I tried to focus on my own driving and not think about the pace of others.
"It was slippery in the narrow sections and where the surface changed, especially on the opening stage, and I don't think I've ever been as sideways on asphalt as I was this morning. When it's dry the car feels great and I hope I can take that feeling into the second leg. Tomorrow's stages are fast and the tests on the Baumholder military land will be tricky," he added.
BP Ford Abu Dhabi team director Malcolm Wilson described Hirvonen's performance as 'superb.' "It's the most competitive Mikko has been on asphalt and the new car has run really well. His second place isn't just down to the improvements of the car, Mikko has improved a lot on this surface. I'm pleased with how Jari-Matti has approached this event and built his confidence as the day progressed. It was a strong performance from both drivers," he said.
News from our Rivals
Sébastien Loeb (Citroen) won all the day's stages to build an overnight advantage of 19.9sec over Hirvonen. Dani Sordo (Citroen) is just 5.7sec behind, the Spaniard unhappy with his soft compound tyre choice this morning, with Stobart driver François Duval (Ford) in fourth. The Belgian dropped time this morning with minor gearchange difficulties. Behind Latvala, team-mates Petter Solberg and Chris Atkinson (both Subaru) traded places on virtually every stage. The day ended with Solberg leading Atkinson by 30.1sec after the Australian overshot a junction on the final test before it was cancelled. Gigi Galli (Ford) retired from eighth on the penultimate stage when his car crashed into trees. He was airlifted to hospital with a fractured left femur and is due to have an operation tonight.
Tomorrow's Route
The second leg comprises a mix of countryside tests in Saarland and fearsome roads in the Baumholder military training area. After leaving Trier at 06.15, drivers face two loops of four speed tests covering 159.76km before returning to the city at 19.58. The most challenging section will be two passes through the 30.38km Panzerplatte stage in Baumholder, the longest of the rally.
Leaderboard after Day 1
1. S Loeb/D Elena FRA Citroen C4 1hr 00min 22.5sec
2. M Hirvonen/J Lehtinen FIN Ford Focus RS 1hr 00min 42.4sec
3. D Sordo/M Marti ESP Citroen C4 1hr 00min 48.1sec
4. F Duval/P Pivato BEL Ford Focus RS 1hr 01min 01.2sec
5. J-M Latvala/M Anttila FIN Ford Focus RS 1hr 01min 18.2sec
6. P Solberg/P Mills NOR Subaru Impreza 1hr 01min 26.4sec
7. C Atkinson/S Prévot AUS Subaru Impreza 1hr 01min 56.5sec
8. H Solberg/C Menkerud NOR Ford Focus RS 1hr 01min 58.7sec
9. U Aava/K Sikk EST Citroen C4 1hr 02min 01.9sec
10 T Gardemeister/T Tuominen FIN Suzuki SX4 1hr 02min 34.9sec
8.8.2008 - New-look Focus rally car to break cover in Rallye Deutschland
Ford will debut the latest evolution of the record-breaking Focus RS World Rally Car in Rallye Deutschland (14 - 17 August). The car that won the manufacturers' title in the FIA World Rally Championship for the past two seasons, and recently claimed a landmark 100th consecutive points finish, has been upgraded ahead of the first asphalt round of the series since January.
The 2008-version of the Focus RS includes front style changes as well as engine improvements. Style changes to the grill area reflect the looks of the recently-previewed Focus RS road car. A new turbo and crankshaft will increase the range of power available.
This 10th event of the 15-round series can be as demanding and unpredictable as the opening asphalt encounter in Monte Carlo. The roads could not be more different than the French Alpine passes. But the changing nature of the characteristics and surface of the speed tests, along with the threat of rain, will pose tough challenges for BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team drivers Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen and team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila.
The rally is based in Trier, Germany's oldest city and close to the Luxembourg border. The special stages cover three highly-varied types of road. The bumpy, narrow tracks in the Mosel vineyards on the first and last legs comprise fast sections linked by hairpin bends as they rise and fall among the grapes. Corners are frequently hidden by tall vines and there is no rhythm to the artificial roads. The public roads in Saarland are more flowing but are often wooded and can be equally tricky in the wet.
But the infamous Baumholder military ranges provide the sternest test. The roads used for tank training by US soldiers are unique to the series. Fast, wide asphalt contrasts with bumpy abrasive concrete which will demand high durability from Pirelli's tyres. Massive kerb stones known as hinkelstein, designed to keep the tanks on the road, sit on the edge and will punish the slightest mistake. The tracks are always dirty, a mix of sand and gravel making conditions slippery in the dry and treacherous in the wet. The term asphalt is somewhat of a misnomer for Baumholder.
This will be Hirvonen's fifth start here, third in 2007 being the 28-year-old Finn's best result. "Road conditions are the single most important factor on this rally," he said. "If the weather is dry then it's an enjoyable event with some fast and flowing stages. But if it rains the roads can be treacherous. The rain is often localised as well which would make it difficult to judge what compound of tyres to use."
"It's good to be first in the start order here, although on asphalt the advantages and disadvantage aren't as great as on gravel. The first cars pull mud and dirt onto the road so it makes it harder for those lower down the order. It's good to test just before the rally, especially after a fast, smooth gravel event like Finland. Baumholder is always rough and bumpy, while the Mosel stages are fast and the car can bounce around a lot. So it's good to get used to these conditions in advance," he added.
Team News
* As part of the sport's new regulations, BP Ford Abu Dhabi will have just one tyre pattern from Pirelli. The PZero asphalt tyre will be available in both hard and soft compound but there will be no other option for specific dry or wet weather rubber. Teams are not allowed to hand-carve additional cuts into the rubber in the event of heavy rain and each car can carry two spares.
* A record 13 Focus RS cars will start. Gigi Galli / Giovanni Bernacchini and François Duval / Patrick Pivato are nominated for points by the Stobart VK M-Sport Ford team while Henning Solberg / Cato Menkerud and Matthew Wilson / Scott Martin will drive other team cars. Andreas Mikkelsen / Ola Floene will drive a Ramsport-entered car while five crews from Holland will also be behind the wheel of Focus RS cars. Eleven Fiesta ST cars will also start what is the fourth round of the Fiesta SportingTrophy International, 10 of which are registered for the series.
* Ex-Ford driver Colin McRae would have celebrated his 40th birthday on 5 August. To mark this occasion the team is raising money during the month to donate to the new Colin McRae Vision charity. This will support designated children's charitable causes and also foster and educate young motorsport talent in the UK. To donate send a cheque made payable to 'Cumbria Community Foundation - McRae' and send to: M-Sport Ltd, Dovenby Hall, Dovenby, Cockermouth, Cumbria, CA13 0PN, England. There will also be a facility to donate via www.m-sport.co.uk
Rally Route
The route shows few variations from 2007. It is again based around the service park in Trier, although the second day includes two remote service areas at Birkenfeld. While the stage locations are broadly the same, several tests are used in the opposite direction to last year. After Thursday's ceremonial start at Trier's historic Porta Nigra, a UNESCO World Heritage site, Friday's action is based in the Mosel. Saturday is split between tests in Saarland and Baumholder before the final day returns to the vineyards. The rally ends with a spectacular super special stage around Porta Nigra with several cars on course at the same time. Drivers tackle 19 stages covering 352,89km in a route of 1174.91km.
