Hirvonen thanks Gronholm… he is third in the championship

By winning a third World Championship rally in style, Mikko Hirvonen is undoubtedly the third driver of this 2007 season. He owes it, in part, to Marcus Grönholm.

Over the last two seasons, Mikko Hirvonen is the only one to have secured at least one victory against Sébastien Loeb and Marcus Grönholm. But at the end of this season, he still needs to help his teammate win a third world title: « I am satisfied with my performances. I have shown that I have the ability to fight for victory in many rallies. Since this is Marcus’s last season, I want to help him win the title. Over the last two years, Marcus has helped me a lot. It’s my turn now to do everything I can to support him! »

Before tackling the last two rallies, Mikko Hirvonen is twenty points behind his teammate, the leader, while Dani Sordo, 4th in the championship, is 51 points behind the leader.

It was crucial for Marcus Grönholm to maintain the lead in the FIA World Rally Championship before the last two events in Britain.

Marcus Grönholm came very close to a major defeat in Japan. But the retirement of Sébastien Loeb, following his own withdrawal, allows him to maintain a four-point lead in the championship: « The situation remains the same! I wanted to leave Japan being ahead of Sébastien in the championship, and that’s the case. And I am happy to be in this position after having to retire on Friday. It will be difficult, but I am confident. This end of the season looks exciting. We must not make any mistakes and try to win the next two rallies. »

The season ends with the Rally of Ireland – on asphalt – followed by the Rally of Great Britain (Wales Rally GB), on gravel.