Ford BP leaves Argentina with a heavy heart

The director of BP Ford in WRC, Malcolm Wilson, admitted that this weekend in Argentina was the worst experience for his team since the 1999 China Rally, where both of his cars retired in the first stage.

« Our team spirit shone after a difficult first day », explains Wilson. « We picked ourselves up and we remain at the top of the championship by saving enough points. The situation was delicate but in the end, we did not finish the rally too badly. »

Mikko Hirvonen was well in the lead during the first morning until he broke the front suspension of his Focus WRC on a rock. Eliminated for the day, the Finn restarted on Saturday from the 25th position to finish in fifth place. He leaves South America in second place in the championship, five points behind Sébastien Loeb.

« After our problems on Friday, I never thought I would finish so well placed », admits Hirvonen. « I’m surprised to score points. Luckily, Loeb isn’t too far ahead in the championship. He only has a five-point lead; I was afraid I would end up nine points behind. I’m disappointed because I had enough of a lead to win, but that’s life. I was faster than in Mexico even though I really played it safe to finish the event because it was very slippery. » concludes the Finn.

Jari-Matti Latvala lost nine minutes with a rollover on Friday morning. He had managed to climb back to eighth place when a collision with a stone damaged the starter of his Focus WRC, putting him out of the race. He started again this morning in 21st place. Two fastest times later, he was 15th with two points for the constructors’ championship. The 22-year-old Finn is now fourth in the drivers’ championship after two retirements in four rallies.

« My performance is disappointing, but I believe I faced the worst conditions of my career », he comments. « I had to adapt. I’m surprised to score points for the team because I thought I had lost everything yesterday. I was demotivated, but my confidence returned this morning. I learned that you should always check the engine after an impact, even when everything seems to be working well. I’ve also gained experience with Pirelli tires in these wet and muddy conditions. It’s beneficial for future events. »

According to a Ford BP (WRC) press release