2.11.2008 - Japanese joy as Hirvonen and Latvala claim 1-2 for Ford
BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team claimed a magnificent one-two result with the record-breaking Focus RS World Rally Car in Rally Japan today. Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen led from the opening speed test on Friday morning to take their third victory of the FIA World Rally Championship season. Team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila completed the team's domination of the 14th and penultimate round of the series by finishing second, 31.1sec behind their fellow countrymen.
It was the squad's third formation finish of the season following one-two triumphs in Sweden and Turkey. The result also means the battle for the manufacturers' title, which Ford is hoping to clinch for a third consecutive year, will go to the final round in Great Britain next month. The team is 11 points behind the leaders with a maximum 18 at stake.
Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island, hosted the rally which had a new base at the ultra-modern Sapporo Dome sports stadium. The bulk of the action took place over gravel forest roads east and south of the city, which varied from twisty and narrow tracks on the opening day to wider and faster roads during the final two legs. Four special stages were cancelled during the three-day event as a result of snow, which caused roads to deteriorate to an unsafe level, and an accident.
Conditions throughout were extremely demanding. Pre-event rain and snow meant the soft surface quickly cut up to leave massive ruts. Torrential rain today ensured standing water and aquaplaning were a constant hazard, as well as ice patches after a cold night. After the cancellations drivers tackled 25 stages covering 310.61km.
Hirvonen powered into the lead on the opening stage and was never headed. The 28-year-old built up a comfortable advantage over Latvala during Friday's opening leg. With no pressure from behind, Ford's Finns continued to dominate during the second day and maintained their positions during today's treacherous conditions. Hirvonen won 11 stages to secure his third win of the campaign while 23-year-old Latvala claimed three victories en route to his first podium since June.
"I'm delighted with the win but at the same time disappointed that my hopes of the drivers' title are over," said Hirvonen. "We did all we could but it wasn't enough to prevent Sébastien Loeb winning the title, which he richly deserves, and I congratulate him. Conditions were so changeable that it was a difficult and nervewracking weekend and I never had the luxury of being able to ease off. I didn't want to take risks in the wet weather today. I was aquaplaning many times and had several lucky escapes.
"Although the drivers' championship is out of reach we will go to the final round with the manufacturers' title still possible and my thoughts will now focus on that," he added.
BP Ford Abu Dhabi team director Malcolm Wilson described the outcome as a 'dream team result'. "It has been a difficult weekend for all of us involved with the Ford team after the injuries to Patrick Pivato on Friday. Full credit to both drivers for delivering incredible performances in what were probably the most changeable road conditions we've seen on a rally. It keeps our championship hopes alive and the same top three on the final round would give us the crown again," he said.
Ford of Europe motorsport director Mark Deans said: "To see a Ford 1-2 in such an arduous event is a tribute to man and machine. The team worked tirelessly to bring the result we needed and will send us to Rally GB with a chance to wrestle a third consecutive world manufacturers' title. We vowed to fight right to the end of the season and that positive attitude has put us back into contention for the crown."
News from our Rivals
Third place was sufficient for Sébastien Loeb (Citroen) to become the first driver to win five world titles, despite a spin on the penultimate stage. Chris Atkinson (Subaru) claimed fourth. Per-Gunnar Andersson (Suzuki) climbed two places to take fifth, ahead of team-mate Toni Gardemeister, who also overhauled Stobart driver Matthew Wilson (Ford). Petter Solberg (Subaru) took the final points' position, despite breaking an exhaust manifold this morning and incurring a 30sec penalty.
Next round
The season closes with the traditional final round in Britain next month. The all-gravel Rally GB is based in Cardiff on 4 - 7 December.
Final positions (championship positions subject to the official publication of the results by the FIA)
1. M Hirvonen/J Lehtinen FIN Ford Focus RS 3hr 25min 03.0sec
2. J-M Latvala/M Anttila FIN Ford Focus RS 3hr 25min 34.1sec
3. S Loeb/D Elena FRA Citroen C4 3hr 27min 33.6sec
4. C Atkinson/S Prévot AUS Subaru Impreza 3hr 28min 45.4sec
5. P-G Andersson/J Andersson SWE Suzuki SX4 3hr 30min 15.9sec
6. T Gardemeister/T Tuominen FIN Suzuki SX4 3hr 31min 12.4sec
7. M Wilson/S Martin GBR Ford Focus RS 3hr 32min 08.3sec
8. P Solberg/P Mills NOR Subaru Impreza 3hr 38min 22.9sec
9. F Villagra/J Perez Companc ARG Ford Focus RS 3hr 40min 43.8sec
10 D Sordo/M Marti ESP Citroen C4 3hr 42min 11.5sec
1.11.2008 - Ford duo retains command at head of Rally Japan leaderboard
BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team maintained its firm grip of the leading positions in Rally Japan during today's hugely challenging second leg in the forests near Sapporo. Day one pacesetters Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen retained their lead of this 14th and penultimate round of the FIA World Rally Championship. The Finns headed team-mates and fellow countrymen Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila by 15.5sec as they reached the final overnight halt of this three-day event.
After yesterday's shortened leg north-east of Sapporo, the largest city on Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido, today's action moved south for tests near Chitose and the coastal town of Tomokamai. In contrast to yesterday's narrow and twisty roads, today's competition was held over faster and wider gravel tracks, many of which cut up badly and became deeply rutted for the second pass this afternoon following heavy overnight rain.
Drivers tackled 10 stages covering 156.78km, eight in the countryside before two more passes over a super special stage in the spectacular ultra-modern Sapporo Dome.
Twenty-eight-year-old Hirvonen started today with a 26.2sec lead but lost a small part of that after swiping a fence with the rear of his Focus RS WRC on the opening test. He avoided problems on the remaining three stages to end the morning loop with a 16.9sec lead over Latvala. Despite deteriorating conditions, Hirvonen won two afternoon stages to extend his advantage, before Latvala narrowed it again through the two Dome tests.
"It was quite a nervewracking day," he said. "The roads were much faster and it took a while for me to get used to that after the narrow, twisty stages yesterday. This afternoon there were ruts everywhere but I couldn't afford to ease my pace too much. The conditions were difficult and Jari-Matti drove quickly behind me. The strangest moment came this morning when I lost my rhythm after I had to slow when two deer ran across the road in front of me.
"I came to Japan looking for a victory but even if I achieve that tomorrow, it looks like that won't help my championship challenge now. Tomorrow's stages are soft but they shouldn't be as slippery, so I hope we have an easier time," added Hirvonen.
BP Ford Abu Dhabi team director Malcolm Wilson reflected on another positive day. "It was a very controlled performance from both drivers, dictating the pace from the front. Both delivered measured drives, especially in such difficult conditions on the stages," he said.
News from our Rivals
Behind Hirvonen and Latvala, Sébastien Loeb (Citroen) retained third, the Frenchman's only problem coming this afternoon when he dropped time on a badly rutted stage. Petter Solberg (Subaru) climbed to fourth this morning ahead of team-mate Chris Atkinson, but retired with smashed rear suspension after hitting a hole and spinning in the final countryside test. Atkinson survived a 360 degree spin after hitting the same hole. Stobart driver Matthew Wilson (Ford) climbed to fifth after a steady day, with Toni Gardemeister (Suzuki) rounding off the top six. Per-Gunnar Andersson (Suzuki) dropped two minutes and two places with a puncture this afternoon. The Swede is now seventh. Munchi's driver Henning Solberg (Ford) retired from sixth after stage 17 with broken suspension.
Tomorrow's Route
Drivers face another nine stages during the final day's competition. After a 06.00 start from Sapporo, the route again heads south towards the cost at Tomokamai. Competitors face two identical loops of four tests, split by a final pass through the Sapporo Dome super special stage, providing 96.43km of competition. The finish takes place in the Dome at 15.00.
Leaderboard after Day 2
1. M Hirvonen/J Lehtinen FIN Ford Focus RS 2hr 21min 31.8sec
2. J-M Latvala/M Anttila FIN Ford Focus RS 2hr 21min 47.3sec
3. S Loeb/D Elena FRA Citroen C4 2hr 22min 25.3sec
4. C Atkinson/S Prévot AUS Subaru Impreza 2hr 23min 57.8sec
5. M Wilson/S Martin GBR Ford Focus RS 2hr 26min 03.4sec
6. T Gardemeister/T Tuominen FIN Suzuki SX4 2hr 26min 10.3sec
7. P-G Andersson/J Andersson SWE Suzuki SX4 2hr 26min 43.6sec
8. F Villagra/J Perez Companc ARG Ford Focus RS 2hr 31min 31.4sec
9. J Ketomaa/M Stenberg FIN Subaru Impreza 2hr 33min 18.2sec
10 E Novikov/D Moscatt RUS Mitsubishi Lancer 2hr 34min 01.3sec
31.10.2008 - Hirvonen and Latvala provide Ford with perfect start in Japan
BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team hit top form on the vastly shortened opening leg of Rally Japan to hold first and second places tonight. Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen dominated in their Ford Focus RS World Rally Car to lead from the opening speed test in this 14th and penultimate round of the FIA World Rally Championship. They built a 26.2 second advantage over team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila.
This shortest leg of the three-day event was truncated as a result of bad weather and a serious accident. Snow earlier in the week damaged the roads in the longest special stage and organisers scrapped both passes over the test for safety reasons. An accident this afternoon halted that stage and the resulting delay meant another test was cancelled to put the rally back on schedule. Drivers tackled just 57.40km of the scheduled 90.48km.
The rally is based in Sapporo, the largest city on Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido, for the first time after moving west from the previous host town of Obihiro. The bulk of today's tests were to the north-east over twisty and muddy gravel forest tracks, often tree-lined and with large drainage ditches alongside. The leg ended with two passes over a super special stage inside the ultra-modern Sapporo Dome, a baseball stadium and host to soccer's World Cup in 2002.
Hirvonen was fastest over two of the morning's three stages to open a 6.9sec lead over Latvala by the time the cars returned to Sapporo for service. He was quickest through both afternoon tests over the same roads, before winning both passes over the Dome test, for a tally of six wins from seven stages.
"Today was soft, narrow and twisty but everything felt good so I pushed hard all day," said 28-year-old Hirvonen. "It was cold and muddy in the opening stage this morning, so cold that I never really got any heat into the tyres, although the grip was still consistently good. I didn't expect so much snow there and in some places when I cut a corner, it came over the car. This afternoon the roads were really rutted but I expected them to be worse. It was difficult to drive because the ruts were so deep. But I had a clear run and everything went smoothly.
"Tomorrow's stages are wider and faster. There was a lot of loose gravel on the surface during the recce so I hope it continues to rain tonight to dampen everything down because first in the start order won't be the best place to be otherwise. The stages will require a different rhythm from today and I hope I can find that immediately," added Hirvonen.
BP Ford Abu Dhabi team director Malcolm Wilson reflected on 'a perfect day' for the team. "We had no issues with the cars on what was one of the most challenging days' driving of the season. The drivers had wet, dry and snow to contend with and both dealt with the conditions in a highly mature fashion," he said.
News from our Rivals
Behind Hirvonen and Latvala, Sébastien Loeb (Citroen) held third, the Frenchman driving cautiously in his quest for a fifth world title. Chris Atkinson (Subaru) made a steady start but climbed from ninth to fourth, overhauling team-mate Petter Solberg on the final stage. Stobart driver Matthew Wilson (Ford) rounded off the top six. Team-mate François Duval (Ford) climbed to second, ahead of Latvala, on stage five but retired on the following test after crashing heavily into a steel post supporting a roadside barrier. The Belgian was uninjured but co-driver Patrick Pivato was airlifted to hospital with a broken pelvis and a fractured tibia and is undergoing surgery this evening. Dani Sordo (Citroen) retired from fifth on stage six with engine problems while Conrad Rautenbach (Citroen) went out after sliding off the road on the opening test.
Tomorrow's Route
The second day is the longest of the rally. After leaving Sapporo at 07.30, drivers tackle two identical loops of four stages near the town of Chitose and Tomakomai, before another two passes over the Dome super special stage. They reach the final overnight halt at 19.17 after 156.78km of competition.
Leaderboard after Day 1
1. M Hirvonen/J Lehtinen FIN Ford Focus RS 42min 40.8sec
2. J-M Latvala/M Anttila FIN Ford Focus RS 43min 07.0sec
3. S Loeb/D Elena FRA Citroen C4 43min 11.4sec
4. C Atkinson/S Prévot AUS Subaru Impreza 43min 41.1sec
5. P Solberg/P Mills NOR Subaru Impreza 43min 42.8sec
6. M Wilson/S Martin GBR Ford Focus RS 43min 52.0sec
7. P-G Andersson/J Andersson SWE Suzuki SX4 43min 52.4sec
8. T Gardemeister/T Tuominen FIN Suzuki SX4 44min 17.6sec
9. H Solberg/C Menkerud NOR Ford Focus RS 44min 27.4sec
10 J Ketomaa/M Stenberg FIN Subaru Impreza 45min 42.2sec
24.10.2008 - Revamped Rally Japan poses new questions for Ford squad
BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team steps into the unknown next week when it journeys to the Land of the Rising Sun for a new-look Rally Japan. This penultimate round of the FIA World Rally Championship is firmly established in the series. However, a new host city means that for the second time this season drivers Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen and team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila will let loose their Focus RS World Rally Cars on unknown roads.
After four years in Obihiro, the rally moves west to Sapporo in the central region of Hokkaido, the country's most northerly island. It is based at the 43,000-capacity Sapporo Dome, a modern baseball and soccer stadium that hosted the 2002 World Cup. The dome also hosts five asphalt speed tests, the first time in WRC history that two cars run simultaneously on a super special stage in a covered arena.
All the special stages are new to the WRC but most of the countryside tests have been used for many years in Japan's national championship. Most are based on medium to high-speed gravel forest roads and organisers describe them as flowing with good visibility.
BP Ford Abu Dhabi tyre engineer George Black visited the stages after last year's rally and found them to be undulating. "Most are quite hilly and although they are not high, they are not really flat. They are reasonably quick but narrow and some are very loose. The surface is mostly a pebble type of gravel rather than quarried gravel, although some are compacted, almost like cobblestones, and quite slippery. One of the biggest features will be the carpet of leaves on the surface. All the roads were leaf covered last year and very wet," he said.
Reigning manufacturers' world champion BP Ford Abu Dhabi lies second in the 2008 standings and must realistically take maximum points to ensure the title fight goes to the final round in Britain in December. Similarly, Hirvonen holds second in the drivers' table and victory is essential. However, even a maximum 10-point haul may not be enough to take the battle into the final round.
The 28-year-old Finn has a strong record over roads new to the championship, winning in Norway in 2007 and triumphing in Jordan in April. He also claimed the top step of the podium in Japan in 2007, having finished third the previous year. "Last week's test went well and it was a good feeling to be back on gravel. I have to go to Japan and try to win again, it's the only thing I can do to try to keep the championships alive," he said.
"We need to be careful with the pace notes because the roads are narrow and fast. On the more open corners it will be important to check carefully for rocks to see if it will be OK to make cuts or not. It helps that everyone is competing on these roads for the first time because nobody has the advantage of previous experience.
"I enjoy making new notes and feel confident when I'm doing that. However, it's easy to slip up on new rallies, because we write the notes on the first pass during the recce and then check them just once on the second pass before driving the roads flat out. I've seen pictures of the stages but I don't know much more than that. There seems to be plenty of loose stones, a little like Australia but not to the same extent, and I understand the roads are narrow and soft in places," added Hirvonen.
Team News
* As part of the sport's new regulations, BP Ford Abu Dhabi will have just one tyre pattern from Pirelli. The Scorpion gravel tyre will be available in soft compound only. Because anti-deflation mousse is also outlawed this year, the Scorpion includes reinforced sidewalls to offer increased protection against punctures. Teams are not allowed to hand-carve additional cuts into the rubber and each car can carry two spares.
* The team completed a successful four-day gravel test in the south of France last week in preparation for Rally Japan and Rally GB. Hirvonen drove for the first two days with Latvala taking the wheel for the final two. The team was delighted with the test, making improvements to the Focus RS WRC's differential settings and suspension set-up.
* Four other Focus RS cars will start. Matthew Wilson / Scott Martin and François Duval / Patrick Pivato are nominated by the Stobart VK M-Sport squad while the Munchi's Ford team has entered Federico Villagra / Jorge Perez Companc and Henning Solberg / Cato Menkerud.
Rally Route
After a ceremonial start in Sapporo Dome on Thursday evening, the rally heads east for stages near the cities of Yubari and Mikasa on the opening day. The long second leg heads south for tests near the coast at Tomakomai and close to Lake Shikotsuko, with the final day in the same area but closer to Tomakomai. The first two legs end with two passes over the super special stage inside the Dome and the test is used for a fifth time midway through the final day. Drivers tackle 29 stages covering 343.69km in a route of 1316.28km.
