Rally Polen 26-06 t/m 28-06-2009

Uitslag dag 3:

Hirvonen leads World title race after victory in Rally Poland:

BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team drivers Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen took the lead in the FIA World Rally Championship today after winning Rally Poland in a Focus RS World Rally Car. It was Ford's third straight victory following wins in Italy and Greece and Hirvonen now heads the drivers' standings by one point with four rounds remaining.

The Finns led the rally for virtually the entire event, their winning margin 1min 10.3sec after three days of flat-out competition. Team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila were on course for second place in another Focus RS WRC, only to retire with the finish in sight after hitting a barrel and breaking his car's steering on the final speed test in the rally's host town of Mikolajki

This was Poland's first appearance in the WRC since the inaugural championship in 1973. More than 200,000 fans welcomed its return by swamping the picturesque Mazurian Lake District, 250km from Warsaw in the north-east of the country, to watch the action. Narrow, sandy and blisteringly fast gravel roads challenged the drivers, who tackled 18 special stages covering 352.00km. Such was the pace that Hirvonen won Friday's penultimate speed test at an average speed of 129.44kph.

Hirvonen took the lead on the third stage on Friday morning and Latvala claimed second just one test later after Sébastien Loeb, Hirvonen's title rival, hit a tree stump and broke his car's suspension. The BP Ford Abu Dhabi duo withstood a determined challenge yesterday morning from third-placed Dani Sordo and measured their pace through today's final leg until the last stage drama.

"This has been the best rally of the season so far," said 28-year-old Hirvonen. "The roads here are fast and narrow and the crowds provided a superb atmosphere. It's the first time I have won two consecutive rallies and it has put me into the lead of the championship ahead of my home rally in Finland. The weekend was perfect from start to finish. After Loeb's mistake on Friday, I thought I might have an easy drive but it wasn't to be. I had to drive flat out yesterday to stay ahead and it's a fantastic feeling to win after such a great fight.

"I started this morning determined to go flat out through the first loop of stages. When I saw the split times of the guys behind me I knew they weren't pushing so hard, so I was able to drive more cautiously. Everything is possible now regarding the championship. I'm in the lead, so it's in my own hands over the final four rounds," said Hirvonen.

Latvala drove a faultless rally until his final stage error. The 24-year-old Finn relished the challenge of the fast and narrow roads and had provided perfect support to both Hirvonen's title bid and Ford's challenge for a third manufacturers' title in four years. However, it all went wrong on the second bend of the final 2.50km test.

"It was my mistake," admitted a distraught Latvala. "I wasn't driving too quickly but I turned into the bend too early and clipped an oil barrel which was full of sand. The impact broke the steering and I couldn't turn into the next bend and hit the barrier on the opposite side of the road. I've let down the team and damaged Ford's dream of winning the manufacturers' title this year."

A determined Latvala and Anttila tried to push the car to the finish of the stage and completed a whole lap before being forced to stop and retire.

BP Ford Abu Dhabi team director Malcolm Wilson reflected on a bitter-sweet end to the weekend. "Mikko has been fantastic throughout. He drove superbly all weekend and thoroughly deserved to take his second win in a row. But I never expected to see what I saw on the final stage. I went to watch the perfect end of a perfect weekend but I can't believe what happened right in front of my eyes. It was heartbreaking to see such an excellent result slip away after both drivers did such a superb job for three days," he said.

Ford of Europe's motorsport manager Gerard Quinn said: "Three consecutive wins is a great reward for the efforts of the team over recent months. Mikko leads the championship going into his home rally and that will be a special moment for him. All our efforts are geared towards maintaining our momentum in Finland, one of the sport's great classics, next month."

Next round
The championship moves into its final third in Finland next month for one of the sport's great classics. Rally Finland, the home event for Hirvonen and Latvala, is based in Jyväskylä on 30 July - 2 August.

Final positions
1. M Hirvonen/J Lehtinen FIN Ford Focus RS 3hr 07min 27.5sec
2. D Sordo/M Marti ESP Citroen C4 3hr 08min 37.8sec
3. H Solberg/C Menkerud NOR Ford Focus RS 3hr 09min 33.2sec
4. P Solberg/P Mills NOR Citroen Xsara 3hr 09min 51.8sec
5. M Wilson/S Martin GBR Ford Focus RS 3hr 11min 45.0sec
6. K Holowczyc/L Kurzeja POL Ford Focus RS 3hr 12min 01.4sec
7. S Loeb/D Elena FRA Citroen C4 3hr 26min 42.6sec
8. C Rautenbach/D Barritt ZIM Citroen C4 3hr 26min 48.1sec
9. E Novikov/D Moscatt RUS Citroen C4 3hr 26min 53.7sec
10 M Bebenek/G Bebenek POL Mitsubishi Lancer 3hr 30min 36.2sec

Drivers
1. M Hirvonen 58pts
2. S Loeb 57pts
3. D Sordo 39pts
4. H Solberg 27pts
5. J-M Latvala 25pts
6. P Solberg 25pts

Manufacturers
1. Citroen Total 106pts
2. BP Ford Abu Dhabi 89pts
3. Stobart VK M-Sport Ford 60pts
4. Citroen Junior 29pts
5. Munchi's Ford 18pts

Bron: M-Sport

Uitslag na dag 2:

Hirvonen and Latvala keep cool as Rally Poland pace hots up:

BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team maintained its grip on first and second places during the second leg of Rally Poland today. Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen hold a 12.0sec lead over team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila, both in Ford Focus RS World Rally Cars, after a another day of incredible high-speed action through the countryside of north-east Poland.

Drivers are sampling the Polish roads in the FIA World Rally Championship for the first time since 1973 and speeds have matched those only seen in the series' fastest fixture in Finland. Ford's flying Finns relished the challenge posed by the narrow gravel roads near Mikolajki, in the Mazurian Lake District, and required all their bravery and lightning reactions to fight off a determined challenge from their closest rival.

Competitors on this eighth round of the championship tackled two identical loops of three speed tests north-east of Mikolajki, covering 149.44km. Overcast skies and cool temperatures failed to deter enormous crowds from lining the special stages, and the fans were rewarded when sunshine began to break through this afternoon for the first time since the practice period for the rally started on Tuesday.

Hirvonen restarted this morning with an 8.9sec lead over Latvala. After a cautious start, both quickly abandoned any thoughts of a steady drive as third-placed Dani Sordo took advantage of better road conditions to launch a fierce attack. Latvala was forced to drive flat out through the morning loop to deter Sordo, which in turn meant Hirvonen had to step up his pace to remain ahead of his colleague. The leader ended the opening loop with a 3.0sec advantage over Latvala, but Sordo halved his overnight deficit to Hirvonen to 19.5sec.

Road conditions were more even this afternoon and the BP Ford Abu Dhabi duo regained the upper hand in the battle. Hirvonen won the afternoon's opening test and was faster than Latvala on the final two stages to stretch his advantage. Both pulled away from Sordo, who ended the day 38.5sec from the lead as the top three mirrored the standings after yesterday's opening leg.

"It has been fantastic, a proper fight for the lead, and I've enjoyed today so much," said Hirvonen. "This morning Sordo attacked hard in third so Jari-Matti had to drive flat out to keep ahead of him, and I had to drive at maximum to stay in front of Jari-Matti. I didn't expect that, I hoped it might be easier. I struggled a little with being first through the stages, which I also didn't expect. The road surface was damp with hard mud on top after the rain and I was breaking up the surface to leave better grip for those behind.

"There were sections this afternoon when I was flat out, even when my pace notes suggested otherwise. It was almost insane at times – but great fun! If it is possible, then I think tomorrow's stages could be even quicker. I need to be wide awake in the morning to go flat out and then hopefully I can drive a little steadier in the afternoon. But I know Sordo will pressure us again," he added.

Latvala was equally amazed at today's pace. "I'm a Finn and used to fast rallies but I don't think I've ever driven as fast as I did this afternoon. They were the hardest seconds I've had to fight for in my life. My only tactic was to put the right pedal down to the floor and keep it there. It was very demanding and required maximum concentration all the time. There was just one moment that I thought I might be in trouble. The car jumped out of the ruts in fifth gear over a crest and I clipped a tree with the back, but it was OK," he said.

"I had no choice but to drive hard this morning. Sordo was pushing hard and my goal was to keep him behind me to preserve our one-two on the leaderboard, so I had to keep my pace high as well. I didn't want to battle with Mikko or put pressure on him but I had to just to maintain my second place," added 24-year-old Latvala.

BP Ford Abu Dhabi team director Malcolm Wilson reflected on another perfect day for his team. "Both Mikko and Jari-Matti delivered superb performances, especially considering the pressure they were put under this morning. Mikko has extended his lead while Jari-Matti played a crucial role by supporting Mikko and keeping his pursuer behind him," said Wilson.

News from other Ford teams

Stobart driver Henning Solberg has been involved in a thrilling three-way battle with brother Petter and Sébastien Ogier for fourth place. After restarting in fifth, Solberg and co-driver Cato Menkerud moved ahead of his younger brother in their Focus RS WRC this morning, only for Petter to regain the initiative on the last stage to leave Henning in sixth. Only 8.7sec cover the trio. Team-mates Matthew Wilson and Scott Martin are seventh, Wilson struggling with a painful back injury. Polish heroes Krzysztof Holowczyc and Lukasz Kurzeja climbed to eighth in their Focus RS WRC, 25.3sec behind Wilson.

Tomorrow’s Route

The final day is the shortest of the rally. After leaving Mikolajki at 06.30, drivers tackle two identical loops of two stages before a second pass over the superspecial stage on the edge of the town which started the rally on Thursday evening. They face 86.86km before the finish in Mikolajki at 14.54.

Leaderboard after Day 2
1. M Hirvonen/J Lehtinen FIN Ford Focus RS 2hr 21min 45.8sec
2. J-M Latvala/M Anttila FIN Ford Focus RS 2hr 21min 57.8sec
3. D Sordo/M Marti ESP Citroen C4 2hr 22min 24.3sec
4. S Ogier/J Ingrassia FRA Citroen C4 2hr 23min 45.1sec
5. P Solberg/P Mills NOR Citroen Xsara 2hr 23min 52.5sec
6. H Solberg/C Menkerud NOR Ford Focus RS 2hr 23min 53.8sec
7. M Wilson/S Martin GBR Ford Focus RS 2hr 25min 33.8sec
8. K Holowczyc/L Kurzeja POL Ford Focus RS 2hr 25min 59.1sec
9. C Rautenbach/D Barritt ZIM Citroen C4 2hr 27min 11.7sec
10 M Østberg/ J Andersson NOR Subaru Impreza 2hr 28min 21.3sec

Bron: M-Sport

Uitslag na dag 1:

Pole position for Ford as Hirvonen and Latvala shine in Poland:

BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team won all six of today's speed tests to hold first and second after the opening leg of Rally Poland. Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen established themselves at the head of the leaderboard this morning in their Ford Focus RS World Rally Car and remained there throughout the day to build an overnight lead of 8.9sec. Team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila are second in a similar car, both pairings winning three special stages each.

This eighth round of the FIA World Rally Championship marks the return of the series to Poland for the first time since 1973. It is based in the picturesque town of Mikolajki in the Mazurian Lake District, 250km north of Warsaw, and fans have turned out in huge numbers to welcome the world's best drivers to their country. Up to 200,000 are forecast to watch the action over the weekend.

The event began last night with a spectacular 2.50km superspecial stage in a purpose-built arena on the edge of Mikolajki. The competition began in earnest this morning when drivers journeyed east of the town to tackle two identical loops of three gravel tests covering another 110.70km. Hirvonen and Latvala compared the roads to those in their native Finland and the speeds were just as fast. Hirvonen's victory on the penultimate stage was achieved at a remarkable average of 129.44kph.

Torrential rain in the build-up to the rally raised fears that the sandy roads would quickly become rutted. However, dry conditions today ensured the surface did not break up as much as was feared.

Hirvonen, third after last night's test, was quickest on this morning's opening two stages to take a slender 0.3sec lead. The 28-year-old extended his advantage before the lunchtime service as the tricky roads trapped closest rival Sébastien Loeb, who crashed into retirement. He won another stage this afternoon, stunning his rivals with a time more than eight seconds faster than anyone else in just 11.34km of competition.

"I want 10 points from here and after Loeb's accident I must think about the championship now," said Hirvonen, who lies second in the drivers' standings, seven points behind the Frenchman. "After I saw Loeb's car I eased my pace because I didn't want to make the same mistake. I had marked the tree stump that he hit in my pace notes and actually discussed it with Jari-Matti before we started this morning. It's a new rally with new pace notes so that kind of accident can happen to anyone and I can't afford to do anything stupid tomorrow.

"The roads were fast and narrow and conditions this afternoon weren't as bad as we feared. There were only a few ruts and I really enjoy driving these stages. They are my type of roads, with something happening all the time. My stage win this afternoon was fantastic. I had the kind of feeling that I can't describe. We must take full advantage of this situation over the next two days. Start order isn't an issue here so I have no concerns about being first on the road tomorrow," added Hirvonen.

Latvala began the day in ninth but ended the morning in second, courtesy of fastest time on the final stage of the loop. The 24-year-old won two more tests this afternoon to build a 28.1sec advantage over third-placed Dani Sordo.

"The roads are so fast that it took the first two stages for my brain to get used to the pace," said Latvala. "The grip changed constantly. When the surface was hard it was slippery and when it was softer and sandy then the grip was better. My feeling with the car improved as the day went on. I dropped time to Mikko on the penultimate stage. I thought I had driven perfectly but he was more than eight seconds faster. It was the most incredible time.

"We all want a one-two finish with the championship in mind, so we have to be sensible and not become drawn into a pointless fight with Mikko. But Dani Sordo will put the pressure on tomorrow so we need to keep a fast pace," added Latvala.

BP Ford Abu Dhabi team director Malcolm Wilson described Hirvonen and Latvala's performances as 'classy'. "Mikko has led for virtually the entire day and both drove sensibly, taking on board the significance of Loeb's error this morning and perfectly factoring it into their driving for the rest of the day. Both cars ran faultlessly on what are some of the fastest stages in the WRC calendar. These fast roads clearly suit our Finnish drivers," he said.

News from other Ford teams

Stobart drivers Henning Solberg and Cato Menkerud are fifth in their Focus RS WRC. The Norwegians struggled with their car's set-up initially but quickly climbed the order as they grew accustomed to the characteristics of the Polish stages. Team-mates Matthew Wilson and Scott Martin are seventh, the Britons also growing in confidence as their trust in the pace notes increased. Polish heroes Krzysztof Holowczyc and Lukasz Kurzeja delighted their home crowds as they moved onto the leaderboard in the team's third car. Despite dropping 20sec following a spin on the morning's final stage, they are ninth.

Tomorrow’s Route

The second leg again heads north-east of Mikolajki, but journeys further afield than today's compact route. Competitors leave the town at 09.00 and face two identical loops of three stages covering 149.44km. Each loop includes two tests of more than 30km. Drivers return to the town for the final overnight halt at 19.26.

Leaderboard after Day 1
1. M Hirvonen/J Lehtinen FIN Ford Focus RS 1hr 02min 23.1sec
2. J-M Latvala/M Anttila FIN Ford Focus RS 1hr 02min 32.0sec
3. D Sordo/M Marti ESP Citroen C4 1hr 03min 00.1sec
4. P Solberg/P Mills NOR Citroen Xsara 1hr 03min 37.7sec
5. H Solberg/C Menkerud NOR Ford Focus RS 1hr 03min 44.6sec
6. S Ogier/J Ingrassia FRA Citroen C4 1hr 03min 56.0sec
7. M Wilson/S Martin GBR Ford Focus RS 1hr 04min 19.6sec
8. C Rautenbach/D Barritt ZIM Citroen C4 1hr 04min 54.6sec
9. K Holowczyc/L Kurzeja POL Ford Focus RS 1hr 05min 02.9s
10 M Østberg/ J Andersson NOR Subaru Impreza 1hr 06min 54.7sec

Bron: M-Sport

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