23.1.2010 - Hirvonen had a victorious Ford Fiesta S2000 test in Monte Carlo Rally

Flying Finn Mikko Hirvonen had his first visit for Super2000 world in IRC opening round at Monaco. Hirvonen estimated that he won't be missing current World Rally Cars if this 2 litre non-turbocharged engine decision stays in season 2011 World Rally Championship series.

- If the engine provides enough horse powers these are very nice cars to drive, shared Hirvonen his thoughts considerting Ford Fiesta S2000 rally car.

Current S2000 regulations allows the engine to be 2 litres and non-turbocharged. There are speculations that in season 2011 World Rally Championship series that the engine is 1.6 litres and turbocharged. Compared to current World Rally Cars the Super 2000 car has lots less electronics which makes more work for the driver to drive the car.

- During driving I missed central diff which is not included in these cars. In slow corners the car doesn't turn like World Rally Championship car. Also gearbox changer gives extra job for the driver but actually it works very well, Hirvonen told.

- In Monte Carlo Rally we had some minor problems with steering. Sometimes it went stuck and therefore requires some developement work, Hirvonen added.

Hirvonen was very satisfied for his first ever victory in Monte Carlo rally.

- It has always been my dream, Hirvonen joyed.

Juho Hänninen sealed double victory for Finns

Battle for podium positions had its' finish just before the final stage when Sebastien Ogier was forced to retire the event due electrical problems in transit sections for final stages. At the time of retirement he was only approximately 30 seconds slower than Hirvonen.

- Ofcourse it's a shame that Ogier suffered problems. Otherwise it would have been tight battle for victory, Hirvonen told.

Skoda Fabia S2000 driver Juho Hänninen sealed double victory for Finns. In finish the gap between Flying Finns were about two minutes. Next round for IRC is to be driven in March at Brazil. WRC starts in February from Sweden.

Monte Carlo Rally 2010 final results:
1. Mikko Hirvonen Mikko & Jarmo Lehtinen, Ford Fiesta S2000, 4:32:58.5
2. Juho Hänninen Juho & Mikko Markkula, Škoda Fabia S2000, +1:51.4sec
3. Nicolas Vouilloz Nicolas & Benjamin Veillas, Škoda Fabia S2000, +03:19.1sec

8.12.2009 - Mikko Hirvonen: Perfect final for season 2009

World Rally Championship silver medalist Mikko Hirvonen concluded his season 2009 to victory when he was fastest in traditional Attilio Bettega memorial event in Bologna Italy.

There were approximately 30 000 people spectating for WRC sprint event.

In quarter finals Hirvonen defeated his fellow Finn Marcus Grönholm and in finals he was faster than Citroen driver Sebastien Ogier.

- Perfect closure for my season. I really enjoy driving in these kind of events because I have no pressures of success, Hirvonen joyed.

8.12.2009 - Ford's Hirvonen named International Rally Driver of the Year

FIA World Rally Championship runner-up, Ford's Mikko Hirvonen, was honoured with one of motorsport's most prestigious awards in London last night (Sunday). The BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team driver was named International Rally Driver of the Year at the Autosport Awards in front of a star-studded audience of world champions past and present.

Twenty-nine-year-old Hirvonen and co-driver Jarmo Lehtinen finished second in the 2009 world rally championship drivers' standings in a Ford Focus RS World Rally Car, missing the title by just one point after a thrilling fight on the final event in Britain. Hirvonen's campaign, which included a run of four consecutive rally victories, was rewarded by the readers of Britain's Autosport Magazine and Autosport.com website who named him the year's top rally driver.

Hirvonen was presented with the trophy by fellow Finn and Ford's 1981 world champion Ari Vatanen during a ceremony at London's Grosvenor House Hotel. World champions in attendance included Formula 1 stars Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton and Damon Hill and former World Touring Car champion Andy Priaulx.

After receiving his trophy, Hirvonen said: "I'm a little bit speechless because I didn't expect to hear my name read out. I'm honoured that the British fans and readers of Autosport voted for me and I can't thank them enough. I receive this award on behalf of myself and Jarmo. We are a team and he deserves this just as much as me. It's a proud moment for both of us. It was frustrating to finish second by just a single point, but it was a great season and missing out by so little makes me want the title even more next year."

Joining Hirvonen at the ceremony were Ford's Ian Slater (Vice President, Communications and Public Affairs, Ford of Europe) and Gerard Quinn (Senior Motorsport Manager), plus Malcolm Wilson (Team Director) from M-Sport.

"This Autosport Award of International Rally Driver of the Year is wonderful recognition for Mikko, at the end of such an exciting season in which he showed unrivalled consistency. In fact, Mikko missed the podium only once. With this award he will be more determined than ever to go one better in the 2010 championship," said Slater.

The Autosport Awards began in 1982 as an independent way of recognising achievement in motorsport by giving magazine readers the opportunity to honour top achievers in various fields. There are now 13 categories, covering national and global motorsport. Hirvonen is the seventh Finn to claim the International Rally Driver Award.

04.12.2009 - Mikko Hirvonen enters Monte Carlo rally with new Ford Fiesta S2000

Flying Finn Ford Manufacturer rally driver Mikko Hirvonen and his co-driver Jarmo Lehtinen enters to legendary Rally Monte Carlo with brand new Ford Fiesta S2000 rally car as new Fiesta takes its' first appearance in action.

For Mikko and Jarmo this five days rally is an excellent practice for the start of the season 2010 series which is to be happened in February on Swedish snow. New Ford Fiesta S2000 is developed by M-Sport which is responsible for Ford World Rally campaign. In November 2009 the car made its' first appearance as a safety car in IRC Rally Scotland.

Mikko Hirvonen had his first test of the car in France this week.

- It really looks and feels very fantastic. I'm very happy for this opportunity to develope complitely new car. I was very surprised how well I managed to get used the car and it made me a hellowa experience no matter what the surface was. Despite rough conditions I was able to have a full confidence for the car, told Mikko Hirvonen, age of 29.

I've driven Monte Carlo five times before and therefore the stages and conditions are very familiar for me. I'm very happy to participate the rally because without it we would have had four months without one single event before Rally Sweden. It definitely help me to get into the mood again, Hirvonen continues.

Also Gerald Quinn who is responsible for Ford Europe motorsport shares Hirvonen thoughts.

- World Rally Championship season 2010 starts a month later than before and therefore Monte Carlo rally offers us an excellent possibility to get ourselves back in action. It's also an excellent test opportunity as road conditions varies a lot from dry tarmac to snowy and icy mountain stages. In forthcoming World Rally Championship series there's four tarmac events to be driven and therefore Rally Monte Carlo gives valuable tarmac experience for Mikko. And if the weather is winterish, Mikko gets a flying start for Rally Sweden.

BP Aby Dhabi World Rally team GM mr. Malcolm Wilson tells that Ford Fiesta S2000 is to be homologated in January and therefore Monte Carlo Rally offers an excellent possibility for the new car to have its' first appearance in rallying scene.

- Ford has long tradition in legendary Monte Carlo Rally as in season 2006 Marcus Grönholm won the event with Ford Focus RS WRC rally car. The event offers lots of possibilities for its' spectators to in legendary special stages like Col de Turini, Wilson adds.

Monte Carlo Rally is to be driven in January 19th-23th 2010.