Ford maintains world series lead after gruelling Rally Argentina.

BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team retained its lead in the FIA World Rally Championship after a punishing fourth round in Argentina this weekend. Resilient performances from Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen and team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila in Ford Focus RS World Rally Cars earned the squad a solid points score on the rain-hit Rally Argentina. The double world champions now lead the manufacturers' standings by three points.

Hirvonen and Lehtinen staged a tremendous fightback after suspension problems on the opening day to finish fifth, while fellow Finns Latvala and Anttila recovered from a first day roll and a broken starter motor yesterday to finish 15th. The double points haul was far more than had looked possible midway through yesterday's second leg as rocky roads and treacherous conditions sparked a high rate of attrition among the leading drivers.

Heavy rain before and during the event meant the sandy gravel roads near Carlos Paz in Cordoba province were muddy and rutted. As the roads became softer, rocks that had not been visible during the recce became exposed, causing problems for many. Despite the rain, an estimated 1.5 million people flocked into the pampas and the mountains to watch the three-day event, which was fought out over 21 speed tests covering 347.91km.

Hirvonen was a comfortable leader during the first morning until he hit a rock, breaking a track control arm in the front suspension and he was sidelined for the day. The 27-year-old Finn restarted yesterday in 25th and avoided the carnage affecting those around him to power back to sixth. He took no risks on today's final leg, the bulk of which was based amid the lunar-like landscape of the Traslasierra mountains and contained two of the rockiest and toughest speed tests of the season. He gained one more position and leaves south America second in the drivers' standings, five points behind the leader.

"After Friday's problems, I never thought I could climb this high," said Hirvonen. "I'm surprised to score points and luckily Loeb isn't so far ahead in the championship. He's only five points in front and I thought it would be nine, so that's some comfort. But I'm still disappointed because I made such a good start to lead and I could have won, but that's life. I found more speed than I had on the last round in Mexico but today I drove carefully because conditions were slippery and foggy."

Latvala dropped nine minutes with a roll on the opening morning, but recovered to eighth until an impact with a rock yesterday morning shattered his car's starter motor and he exceeded the permitted time limit. He restarted this morning in 21st and won two of the three special stages to climb to 15th, which was good enough for two points in the manufacturers' championship. The 22-year-old is now fourth in the drivers' standings.

"My performance was disappointing but I think these were the most difficult conditions I've encountered," he said. "I've had to adapt to different ways of driving to match the conditions. I'm surprised to score points for the team because yesterday I thought we had lost everything and wasn't motivated, but my confidence came back this morning. One thing I learned from yesterday was that I need to check the engine after an impact, even when everything seems OK. I've also gained good experience of Pirelli's tyres in wet and muddy conditions which will be good for future events."

BP Ford Abu Dhabi team director Malcolm Wilson reflected on an event that he described 'as the worst for the team since the China Rally in 1999'. "But our team spirit shone through after a tough opening day, we recovered well and we still lead the championship. We salvaged good points from a tricky situation and that was far better than it looked earlier in the rally," he said.

Ford of Europe motorsport director Mark Deans said: "This proved one of the toughest rallies in recent years. We had our share of problems but the Focus RS proved strong enough and fast enough to fight back and score the points which keeps us at the head of the championship table."

News from our Rivals

Sébastien Loeb (Citroen) secured his fourth consecutive Rally Argentina victory, crossing the finish with a 2min 33.2sec advantage. Petter Solberg (Subaru) was on course for second but the Norwegian stopped on the opening stage with electrical problems. Team-mate Chris Atkinson benefited to take his second consecutive runners-up position ahead of Dani Sordo (Citroen). Privateer Conrad Rautenbach (Citroen) took a career-best fourth with Munchi's Federico Villagra (Ford) claiming his best WRC result in sixth. The problems continued to pile up for the leading drivers. Stobart's Matthew Wilson and Henning Solberg (both Ford) each stopped with broken front suspension while Toni Gardemeister (Suzuki) suffered his third retirement of the weekend with broken power steering.

Next round

The championship's third consecutive event outside Europe takes teams to Jordan next month for the first time. The all-gravel Jordan Rally is based at the Dead Sea on 24 - 27 April.

Final positions
1. S Loeb/D Elena FRACitroen C4 4hr 05min 48.6sec
2. C Atkinson/S PrévotAUS Subaru Impreza 4hr 08min 21.8sec
3. D Sordo/M Marti ESP Citroen C4 4hr 09min 53.3sec
4. C Rautenbach/D SeniorZIM Citroen C4 4hr 25min 52.1sec
5. M Hirvonen/J Lehtinen FIN Ford Focus RS 4hr 31min 03.9sec
6. F Villagra/J Perez Companc ARG Ford Focus RS 4hr 33min 30.6sec
7. G Galli/G Bernacchini ITA Ford Focus RS 4hr 33min 40.4sec
8. A Aigner/K Wicha GER Mitsubishi Lancer 4hr 34min 47.9sec
9. S Beltran/R Rojas ARG Mitsubishi Lancer 4hr 35min 53.5sec
10 J Ketomaa/M Teiskonen FIN Subaru Impreza 4hr 37min 41.2sec

Drivers
1. S Loeb 30pts
2. M Hirvonen 25pts
3. C Atkinson 22pts
4. J-M Latvala 16pts
5. G Galli 11pts
6. D Sordo 9pts

Manufacturers
1. BP Ford Abu Dhabi 44pts
2. Citroen Total 41pts
3. Subaru 33pts
4. Stobart VK M-Sport 22pts
5. Munchi's Ford 10pts
6. Suzuki 6pts

Bron: M-Sport
 

Hirvonen fires Ford into top six as Argentina gets tough again,

BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team drivers Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen staged a superb recovery to power back up the Rally Argentina leaderboard today. During a second gruelling day of competition, which again proved too much for many rivals, the Finns kept cool to stay out of trouble and battle back from an overnight 25th to hold sixth position in a Ford Focus RS World Rally Car.

Team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila held eighth in their Focus RS until a heavy impact with a rock damaged their car's starter motor and the Finns were unable to make repairs in the time allowed. Their car was later restored to full health and 22-year-old Latvala will return for tomorrow's final day under SupeRally regulations.

After yesterday's tough opening to this fourth round of the FIA World Rally Championship, today's route was equally demanding. Two identical loops of four sandy speed tests in the Calamuchita valley, south of Carlos Paz, were followed by a second pass over the short special stage at Cordoba's soccer stadium. Competitors returned to Carlos Paz after 154.38km of competition. In contrast to yesterday, the day was rain-free but the roads remained muddy and slippery after yesterday's downpours.

Hirvonen, who led yesterday before broken suspension sidelined him for the afternoon, returned this morning with a healthy Focus RS after sterling repair work from the BP Ford Abu Dhabi mechanics. The Finns were consistently fast on the morning loop and returned to service having climbed back into the manufacturers' points in 17th.

The afternoon was even better for 27-year-old Hirvonen as the roads, now rough and rocky after the morning pass, took their toll on man and machine. One second fastest time and three third quickest performances enabled him to storm up to sixth and fifth in the manufacturers' points standings.

"I didn't think I could make up so many positions," he admitted. "It was hard to find motivation this morning looking at our position but I was quite excited this afternoon when cars started to fall by the wayside. Tomorrow the plan is to drive flat out because anything can happen ahead and I could score a lot more points here than I thought was possible last night. I don't want to let Loeb leave here with too many more points than us. It was incredibly rough and the car took some massive hits underneath this afternoon, but the Focus is strong and we were OK, although the impacts cracked the windscreen and the drivers' side window."

Latvala, hoping to regain more positions after yesterday morning's roll, was fifth through the opening test but a heavy impact meant his car refused to start for the following stage. When the car was finally started Latvala had exceeded the time limit. Although he completed the remaining tests, he faced exclusion from the rest of the day and was therefore withdrawn on his return to the service park.

"On the first stage we drove down a long fast straight with some jumps and dips," said Latvala. "In one compression, just before a crest, there was a rock which had become exposed in the middle of the road and it struck the sump guard beneath the car. At the finish we opened the bonnet to check everything was OK before driving to the next stage.

"We stopped before the start to wait for our turn, but when I tried to start the engine nothing happened. We tried to 'bump start' it to release the starter motor but it was no good. The sump guard must have impacted with the starter motor. When we realised we had gone beyond the time limit, spectators helped push start it and we drove the stage. I've made mistakes here but I've also had no luck. I hope we have some tomorrow," he added.

BP Ford Abu Dhabi team director Malcolm Wilson reflected on another difficult day. "Mikko's car ran perfectly and he did a great job," he said. "Jari-Matti's car took a big hit on the sump guard and he didn't realise the damage. He completed all the stages this morning which is good experience for the future and he will return tomorrow for more experience and perhaps gain some points," he said.

News from our Rivals

Sébastien Loeb (Citroen) maintained his lead after winning three stages, the Frenchman still 80sec clear. Team-mates Chris Atkinson and Petter Solberg (both Subaru) fought over second. Atkinson was overhauled by Solberg on the opening stage but kept the gap small until Solberg pulled away this afternoon to end 48.9sec ahead. Dani Sordo (Citroen) is fourth, ahead of privateer Conrad Rautenbach (Citroen). Many leading drivers failed to last the day. Stobart's Gigi Galli (Ford), in fourth, damaged his exhaust on the morning's final stage and resulting electrical problems could not be repaired in time at service. Team-mate Matthew Wilson (Ford) was sixth when a broken track control arm sidelined him. Third squad member, Henning Solberg, completed the first loop to increase his experience after losing time yesterday before withdrawing at the midday service. Toni Gardemeister (Suzuki) drove all four morning tests with only rear-wheel drive after a front driveshaft broke and was later sidelined with no hydraulic pressure. Team-mate Per-Gunnar Andersson stopped with broken suspension.

Tomorrow’s Route

The final day is the shortest of the rally with just 42.67km of competition but is no easier. The narrow and rocky Giulio Cesare and El Condor tests, high in the lunar-like landscape of the Traslasierra mountains to the south-west of Carlos Paz, are two of the toughest in the championship. The survivors will then head to Cordoba's soccer stadium as two cars at a time race around a revised route from the previous two days. After leaving Carlos Paz at 06.55, drivers will reach the finish in the town at 13.10.

Leaderboard after Day 2
1. S Loeb/D Elena FRA Citroen C4 3hr 28min 16.5sec
2. P Solberg/P Mills NOR Subaru Impreza 3hr 29min 36.1sec
3. C Atkinson/S Prévot AUS Subaru Impreza 3hr 30min 25.0sec
4. D Sordo/M Marti ESP Citroen C4 3hr 31min 48.8sec
5. C Rautenbach/D SeniorZIM Citroen C4 3hr 46min 16.6sec
6. M Hirvonen/J Lehtinen FIN Ford Focus RS 3hr 53min 01.0sec
7. A Aigner/K WichaGER Mitsubishi Lancer 3hr 53min 43.7sec
8. F Villagra/J Perez Companc ARG Ford Focus RS 3hr 54min 09.9sec
9. N Al-Attiyah/C Patterson QAT Subaru Impreza 3hr 54min 34.8sec
10 S Beltran/R Rojas ARG Mitsubishi Lancer 3hr 54min 50.4sec

Bron: M-Sport