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Rally Ierland van 16 t/m 18 november 2007.
18-11-2007 -
Ford wins second consecutive world title with Focus RS WRC*
Ford today won the manufacturers' title in the FIA World Rally
Championship for the second straight season with the Focus RS
World Rally Car. Fourth place for BP-Ford World Rally Team
drivers Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen in Rally Ireland was
sufficient to ensure the crown with one round remaining next
month in Great Britain. The team holds a 21-point lead with a
maximum 18 available on the 16th and final event.
Rally Ireland's
championship debut proved every bit as challenging as was
expected. The narrow, bumpy asphalt lanes were full of crests
and dips and presented the kind of test not found on any other
round of the series. Rain during the opening two legs of the
three-day event provided treacherous conditions as cars dragged
mud onto the already shiny asphalt, and drivers likened the
special stages to driving on ice.
This cross-border event was based in Sligo, and featured tests
in the Republic of Ireland during the first leg before crossing
the border into Northern Ireland on the second day. The final
leg covered both countries, ending with a spectacular test
hugging the Donegal Bay coastline which was broadcast live on
television. Drivers tackled 20 stages in total, covering
328.72km of competition.
Hirvonen's target from the outset was to obtain the points
necessary to ensure BP-Ford's second consecutive manufacturers'
title. Sixth position or better would provide the three points
required to do that and his role became even more important when
team-mates Marcus Grönholm and Timo Rautiainen crashed out
during Friday's opening leg. Hirvonen settled into fourth on the
first morning and adopted a safety-first policy throughout the
rest of the event, happy to keep an eye on the times of the cars
behind rather than chase the drivers in front.
"It was a difficult weekend," he said. "I had to keep reminding
myself to drive cautiously but I did the job that was required
and it's fantastic for the team to win the title. I'm so pleased
for everyone, they deserve it. It's hard to drive at less than
flat out pace and find a rhythm but I had to do that because I
wanted these points so badly. For some reason it feels better
than our first win last year. I expected this to be a tough
rally because the roads here are so narrow and bumpy. The rain
made it even harder and this is definitely the most difficult
asphalt round of the season," added Hirvonen, who has assured
himself of third in the drivers' championship.
Grönholm, who is now six points behind Sébastien Loeb in the
drivers' series, returned home yesterday morning to rest after
his accident. "While I am naturally still disappointed not to
have finished the rally, I'm so pleased for Mikko and Jarmo who
really did a fantastically cool job in securing the vital points,"
said the 39-year-old Finn.
BP-Ford team-mates Khalid Al Qassimi and Nicky Beech finished
15th in another BP-Ford Focus RS on their last outing of the
season. "Conditions here were incredible," said 37-year-old Al
Qassimi. "The roads were more slippery than anything I have
encountered before."
As BP-Ford team director Malcolm Wilson celebrated a second
title, he said: "It's a fantastic feeling to win again. Nothing
will surpass our 2006 title but back-to-back world championships
sends out a message about how strong we are as a team. To win
with one event remaining is amazing. We've had so much support
from the drivers and the entire team, and thanks to Ford for its
magnificent backing. Mikko did a perfect job this weekend. After
Marcus' retirement, Mikko fully understood the role he had to
play this weekend and he did it to perfection."
Ford TeamRS director Jost Capito said: "After last year's title
success we knew we had to raise our game in 2007 if we wanted to
defend it. The reigning champions become the target of all their
rivals and it is an old adage in sport that is harder to defend
a title than it is to win it in the first place. It gives me
great pride to reflect on this achievement and see the
confidence throughout the team. I would like to thank Marcus,
Timo, Mikko and Jarmo for their leadership. Their passion has
inspired everyone in the team to give their very best to help
Ford take rallying's crown again."
News from our Rivals
Sébastien Loeb (Citroen) survived a late scare to win his eighth
rally of the season and take a six point lead in the drivers'
championship. The Frenchman incurred a 10-second penalty at the
final service this morning when an electrical problem caused him
to check out late. Team-mate Dani Sordo finished 53.4sec behind
his colleague. Jari-Matti Latvala (Ford) claimed a career-best
third while Petter Solberg (Subaru) and private-entrant Guy
Wilks (Subaru) completed the top six. Chris Atkinson (Subaru)
failed to leave service this morning after engine problems.
Next round
The final round of the championship will take place on fast
gravel forest roads in Wales. Rally GB is based in Cardiff on 29
November - 2 December.
Final positions
1. S Loeb/D Elena F Citroen C4 3hr 01min 39.2sec
2. D Sordo/M Marti E Citroen C4 3hr 02min 32.6sec
3. J-M Latvala/M Anttila FIN Ford Focus RS 3hr 03min 27.4sec
4. M Hirvonen/J Lehtinen FIN Ford Focus RS 3hr 03min 56.9sec
5. P Solberg/P Mills N Subaru Impreza 3hr 04min 35.0sec
6. G Wilks/P Pugh GB Subaru Impreza 3hr 07min 37.1sec
7. M Wilson/M Orr GB Ford Focus RS 3hr 11min 44.1sec
8. G MacHale/A Harryman IRL Ford Focus RS 3hr 12min 47.5sec
9. A Mikkelsen/O FloeneN Ford Focus RS 3hr 14min 47.4sec
10 N McShea/M Clarke GB Subaru Impreza 3hr 18min 11.3sec
Drivers
1. S Loeb 110pts
2. M Grönholm 104pts
3. M Hirvonen 89pts
4. D Sordo 61pts
5. P Solberg 42pts
6. H Solberg 34pts
Manufacturers
1. BP-Ford (champion*) 194pts
2. Citroen Total 173pts
3. Stobart VK M-Sport Ford 80pts
4. Subaru 79pts
5. OMV Kronos Citroen 43pts
6. Munchi's Ford 14pts
Bron: M-Sport
17.11.2007 -
Cautious Hirvonen steers steady path through Irish downpour:
Caution rather than outright speed served Mikko Hirvonen and
Jarmo Lehtinen well during today's second leg of Rally Ireland
as the BP-Ford World Rally Team duo maintained their grip on
fourth place. Heavy rain left standing water covering the narrow
and twisty lanes in Northern Ireland and Hirvonen's safety-first
policy enabled him to preserve his first leg position in his
Ford Focus RS World Rally Car.
In conditions that were almost as demanding as yesterday's
mud-caked roads, the Finns had their minds firmly fixed on
obtaining the points necessary to secure BP-Ford's second
consecutive manufacturers' title in the FIA World Rally
Championship. Sixth position would provide the three points
required to do that, so 27-year-old Hirvonen was happy to keep
an eye on the times of fifth-placed Petter Solberg and resist
the temptation to chase Jari-Matti Latvala in third.
After yesterday's opening leg in the Republic of Ireland, the
second day crossed the border for two identical loops of three
speed tests near the town of Enniskillen in the County Fermanagh
lakelands. The opening special stage of each loop was shortened
so drivers tackled 104.74km of competition. The rain varied from
light this morning to heavy this afternoon and a full wet
weather set-up was Hirvonen's choice for his Focus RS throughout
the day.
Hirvonen matched his pace to Solberg's split times and a string
of consistent top five times enabled him to end the leg 28.8sec
behind Latvala and 15.6sec clear of Solberg.
"I didn't need to attack, I just need to finish and take those
three points for Ford," said Hirvonen. "I drove so steadily that
I couldn't find a rhythm but I guess that didn't matter. There
wasn't so much rain this morning, just a little bit in all three
stages, and the roads were damp rather than wet. They were good
stages with jumps and crests like we have in Finland, and in the
dry they would be fast.
"The conditions were more difficult this afternoon but in a way
it was easier because I could remember the roads. There was a
little asphalt but mostly it was gravel and mud. I'm not trying
to catch Jari-Matti and my plan for tomorrow will be the same as
today," he added.
BP-Ford team-mates Khalid Al Qassimi and Nicky Beech climbed
from 27th overnight to 19th in their Focus RS, but the
35-year-old Abu Dhabi driver continued to find conditions
tricky. "I've never seen weather like this, even the local
drivers were finding it difficult," he said. "Where there was
grip, or it was drier, I pushed harder but I spent a lot of time
trying to find that grip.
"This afternoon I stalled the engine for about 15sec at the
start of the first stage. That spurred me on to push hard to
make up lost time and it was the best stage of the rally for me.
The final test was extremely hard, with water running across the
road all the way through," he added.
BP-Ford team director Malcolm Wilson was full of praise for
Hirvonen. "It has been a solid, reliable drive. He fully
understands the role he has to play and he did that superbly. He
maintained his position and he will be asked to do drive in the
same way tomorrow," he said.
News from our Rivals
Sébastien Loeb (Citroen) was untroubled and extended his lead to
59.3sec after winning four of the six stages. Dani Sordo
(Citroen) retained second, despite going off the road near the
finish of the second stage and losing 30sec. Jari-Matti Latvala
(Ford) dropped 30sec after going into a field on the opening
stage this afternoon but the Finn remains third, ahead of
Hirvonen. Petter Solberg (Subaru) and Guy Wilks (Subaru)
complete the top six. Manfred Stohl, seventh overnight,
(Citroen) left the road on the opening stage and lost almost
seven minutes and then went off for good two stages later.
Tomorrow’s Route
The final leg covers both sides of the Irish border. After
leaving Sligo at 07.00, competitors tackle two tests in Northern
Ireland before crossing over the border for the final two stages
in the Republic. The final test at Mullaghmore hugs the Donegal
Bay coastline and will provide a picture-postcard backdrop for
live television coverage. The finish is back in Sligo at 14.18
after another 55.91km of competition.
Leaderboard after Leg 2
1. S Loeb/D Elena F Citroen C4 2hr 30min 35.2sec
2. D Sordo/M Marti E Citroen C4 2hr 31min 34.5sec
3. J-M Latvala/M Anttila FIN Ford Focus RS 2hr 32min 44.0sec
4. M Hirvonen/J Lehtinen FIN Ford Focus RS 2hr 33min 12.8sec
5. P Solberg/P Mills N Subaru Impreza 2hr 33min 28.4sec
6. G Wilks/P Pugh GB Subaru Impreza 2hr 36min 27.2sec
7. M Wilson/M Orr GB Ford Focus RS 2hr 39min 58.5sec
8. G MacHale/P Nagle IRL Ford Focus RS 2hr 40min 42.9sec
9. A Mikkelsen/O Floene N Ford Focus RS 2hr 43min 36.5sec
10 A Araujo/M Ramalho P Mitsubishi Lancer 2hr 45min 04.9sec
Bron: M-Sport
Rally Ireland –
after stage 7, Lough Gill 2:
BP-Ford World Rally Team drivers Marcus Grönholm and Timo
Rautiainen are relaxing after being released from Sligo General
Hospital following their accident on this morning's fourth
special stage of Rally Ireland. Both had scans and were allowed
to leave after being given a clean bill of health.
"The accident
happened near the finish on a wide, right corner," said
39-year-old Grönholm. "I braked for the bend but it was
extremely slippery and the car skated off the road. I managed to
turn it sideways before hitting a stone wall hard. It was a big,
big impact because the car stopped immediately. Both wheels on
my side of the car were ripped off. We were taken to hospital
where we were both given a scan but that showed no problems. My
neck is sore but otherwise I'm OK. It will be hard to lift the
drivers' championship if Sébastien Loeb wins, but there are a
lot of kilometres remaining here and on the final round in Great
Britain so I'm not giving up hope yet."
BP-Ford team-mates Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen are fourth
in their Focus RS World Rally Car after a second pass over this
morning's three speed tests. The Finns took no risks on the
narrow and bumpy roads, which were covered in dirt dragged onto
the asphalt during the morning stages. Hirvonen produced his
best performance on the rally on the last 20.57km Lough Gill
test when third fastest time allowed him to close to within
0.2sec of third-placed Jari-Matti Latvala.
"There was a huge amount of gravel and mud on the roads," he
said. "I wasn't flat out during that loop, just trying to find a
good rhythm rather than chasing the cars ahead of me. There is
no point in pushing too hard and risk making a mistake because
third or fourth is good for me. Perhaps my tyre choice wasn't
perfect but the car feels excellent."
Abu Dhabi's Khalid Al Qassimi and Nicky Beech emerged unscathed
from the second loop of stages in their Focus RS. "It was
extremely tricky. The roads were slippery and I took no risks on
the first two stages. I felt more confident on the third stage
so I pushed harder at the beginning, drove cautiously on the
middle section which I knew was greasy, and attacked more
towards the end. It felt better and that gave a boost to my
confidence," said Al Qassimi.
Leaderboard after SS7:
1. S Loeb/D Elena F Citroen C4 1h 07m 50.9sec
2. D Sordo/M Marti E Citroen C4 +6.9sec
3. J M Latvala/M Anttila FIN Ford Focus RS +1m11.6sec
4. M Hirvonen/J Lehtinen FIN Ford Focus RS +1m11.8sec
5. P Solberg/P Mills N Subaru Impreza +1m51.3sec
6. H Solberg/G Bergsten N Ford Focus RS +2m08.4sec
7. G Wilks/P Pugh GB Subaru Impreza +2m52.5sec
8. M Stohl/I Minor AUT Citroen Xsara +3m13.2sec
9. M Wilson/M Orr GB Ford Focus RS +4m38.5sec
10. T McNulty/E O’Donnell IRL Subaru Impreza +5m20.5sec
Bron: M-Sport
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