Hirvonen will open the road in Argentina… but with hopes

Finnish driver Mikko Hirvonen was much more optimistic for the rally in Argentina than he was for the rally in Mexico, the most recent WRC event. The BP Ford driver indeed stated that although his first starting position in the Rally of Argentina will cost him time, he does not believe he will lose as much as in Mexico.

Hirvonen is the leader of the World Rally Championship for the third consecutive round. As the leader, he will have to participate in the Rally Argentina first this weekend and will therefore open the track on the first day, leaving his place on the following days to the rally leader… If conditions remain dry, he will have to sweep away the layer of dust on the surface during the morning, inadvertently providing a faster route for his pursuers.

During the last rally, Hirvonen had already opened the road. At the end of the first day, he was more than a minute behind his teammate in the Ford Focus, Jari-Matti Latvala. The latter himself got caught in a trap on the second day, losing less than a minute to Loeb, who eventually won.

« I can’t change anything about the situation. There is no reason to complain about it », comments Hirvonen. « I learned things while opening the road in Mexico that will help me in Argentina, but I don’t think I will be at so much of a disadvantage. »

Despite this formidable honor, Hirvonen still ranks Argentina among his favorite events: « It’s the most beautiful country to host a WRC rally », he explains.

« The roads are varied with different sections that are interesting for drivers. The fans are very enthusiastic. On certain special stages, it feels like driving between two lines of spectators along the entire route. The atmosphere is great, and you can feel it inside the car. »

Remarks collected by the WRC (Web)