One-Two Finish Key For Hirvonen And Latvala
BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team takes its challenge for a third consecutive manufacturers’ world title to the final round of the FIA World Rally Championship in Wales this weekend.
With the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority-backed squad needing to overturn an 11-point deficit in Wales Rally GB (4 – 7th December), team drivers Mikko Hirvonen and Jari-Matti Latvala realistically require a one-two finish in the Welsh forests to hold off the Citroen duo of Sebastién Loeb and Dani Sordo.
And with Abu Dhabi’s ‘Flying Finns’ both having good records over Wales’ fast forest roads, the UAE capital’s title chasers are confident of their chances. Hirvonen won Wales Rally GB last year, while Latvala finished fourth in 2006 and posted a string of special stage wins last year after recovering from a first day time loss.
All but one of Wales’ 19 stages will be held on privately-owned gravel tracks which are as fast as they are narrow, and Hirvonen and Latvala will be buoyed by the event’s potential for attacking driving.
Tree-lined sections high in the forests contrast with wide open stretches, but the gravel surface can be treacherously muddy and early-morning ice or even snow is possible if temperatures plunge.
Twenty-eight-year-old Hirvonen identified the weather as the event’s hardest aspect and likened parts of the rally to his home event in Finland. "Some parts of the rally are very fast, even quicker than in Finland. The difference is that the fast parts here don’t last long because there are usually hairpin bends that bring the speeds down again. The nature of the roads change more than in Finland," said Hirvonen.
Wales Rally GB’s opening leg (Friday 5th December) offers the rare challenge of competition in full darkness, a WRC rarity and something Hirvonen is looking forward to.
"Driving in darkness, fog and rain is incredibly difficult. Night driving makes the rally even trickier. Alongside Japan and Monte Carlo, this is one of only three rounds where we drive in darkness.
“I feel confident though and I think we have a good chance of a one-two finish. If we can do that I hope it’s enough to win the title," added Hirvonen.
Six years ago, Latvala began his career in Britain, aged just 17. "I regard this as my second home rally. I drove many rallies here in 2002 and 2003 and I’m familiar with the nature of the roads. It’s a classic rally and one that I would really like to win. The mid-Wales stages will be new to many drivers but I have memories of those roads from previous years. They are high on the hills and quite open, but enjoyable to drive," said the 23-year old.
"In Wales, a driver needs to feel confident with the pace notes, be brave and rely heavily on the co-driver. If the notes are not precise enough then it’s easy to lose confidence quickly. On the other hand, a good performance in those conditions can gain a lot of time," added Latvala.
Although the rally remains based in south Wales, major changes take competitors back to the classic mid-Wales forests of Hafren and Myherin for the first time in eight years.
The start and finish remain in Cardiff, where a modified super special stage inside the Welsh capital’s Millennium Stadium awaits the field on day two. The drivers will tackle 19 stages covering 348.99km in a total rally route of 1428.44km.
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