After winning the last two versions of Rally Japan in 2007 and 2008, BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team returns to the Pacific Ocean island of Hokkaido next week intent on sealing a third consecutive win there. Rally Japan (9 – 12 September) takes the squad back to its preferred gravel roads, the team having won two of the last three loose-surface rallies with its Ford Focus RS World Rally Car.

This 10th round of the FIA World Rally championship is the last of the 2010 season to journey outside Europe and returns to the series after a year’s absence.  Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen climbed onto the top step of the podium in both 2007 and 2008 while team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila are on form on gravel, having won in New Zealand and Finland recently.

The rally is again based in Sapporo, Japan’s fifth-largest city, in the central Do-oh region of Hokkaido, the country’s most northerly island.  It is the biggest motorsport event in Japan, with more than 540,000 fans attending in 2008.  The jewel in the rally’s crown is the 43,000 capacity Sapporo Dome, a modern baseball and soccer stadium that hosted the 2002 World Cup.  It will host a spectacular indoor super special stage on each day of the rally, over a course modified since 2008.

The bulk of the competition is based on undulating, medium to fast gravel forest tracks, many of which are particularly loose.  The rally is held seven weeks earlier than in 2008, so the cold weather and leaf-covered surface is likely to be replaced by drier roads and temperatures of around 25ºC.  However, a strong likelihood of rain could make the tracks slippery and muddy.

Hirvonen has started in Japan on five previous occasions and also has a third place to his credit in 2006.  “I enjoyed the type of roads here in 2008.  They were fast, flowing and quite sandy.  The championship hasn’t been there for two years so it will be interesting to see if any work has been carried out on the roads.  If not, they could be quite soft and slippery if it rains.  Although the rally is earlier in the year this season, I don’t think it will make a big difference to the road surface,” he said.

“After crashing out in Finland so early, I’m short of recent gravel competition because the previous loose-surface rally was at the end of May.  The shakedown in Japan is at Sapporo Dome so there is no opportunity to benefit from a final test on a proper gravel stage.  It may take a while to get back into the rhythm again on the first stage, but it shouldn’t be a problem.  I should have the speed to fight for a win but my main target is to end the year with a series of strong finishes,” said the 30-year-old Finn.

This will be 25-year-old Latvala’s fourth start in Japan, his best result in 2008 when he was runner-up to Hirvonen as Ford claimed a formation finish.  “The stages are fast and although there are trees close to the road, visibility through the corners is good and the speeds remain high.  I prefer fast, flowing rallies like New Zealand and Finland.  Japan is another rally of that nature although the roads are narrower here.

“My confidence is highest on that type of road and I want to fight for a podium.  I had good speed when I won in Finland in July and the Focus RS WRC is competitive in those conditions so I’m confident a top three finish is possible.

“We have to use Pirelli’s soft compound tyres and the warmer weather will make it more difficult for them.  But the road surface is quite soft and sandy and the distances we must drive on the same set of tyres are not particularly long, so I have no worries about excessive wear,” added Latvala.

Abu Dhabi’s Khalid Al Qassimi and Michael Orr will drive a third Focus RS WRC for the team.  “This will be the first time I have competed in Japan, but I am looking forward to the return to a gravel surface and, with my eighth place finish in Germany, I am feeling confident to push for a top 10 finish to claim more championship points,” said Al Qassimi.

Team News

* Tyre partner Pirelli will provide BP Ford Abu Dhabi with one regulation tyre pattern.  The Scorpion gravel tyre will be available in soft compound only, one of just three rounds in which soft gravel rubber is used.  Teams are not allowed to hand-carve additional cuts into the rubber and each car can carry two spare wheels.

* Three other Focus RS WRCs are entered.  Matthew Wilson / Scott Martin will be rejoined in the Stobart M-Sport Ford team by Henning Solberg / Ilka Minor, while Argentines Federico Villagra / Jorge Perez Companc will drive for the Munchi’s Ford team.  The rally is the eighth round of the

S-WRC and three Ford Fiesta S2000 cars will start.

* Latvala will drive Ken Block’s Monster World Rally Team Focus RS WRC at the 10th anniversary Rallyday at Castle Combe race circuit in Britain on Saturday 18 September.  Latvala will join other rally celebrities including Stig Blomqvist, Phil Mills, Nicky Grist, Gwyndaf Evans and Guy Wilks at the non-competitive event.

Rally Route

Organisers have made significant changes, including a totally new final leg.  While Sapporo Dome remains the location for the super special stage, the rally base and single service park have been moved to the nearby Tsukisamu Dome.  The rally begins with two passes over the Sapporo Dome test on Thursday and these are repeated at the end of each leg, with the stage used eight times in total.  The opening two legs journey south of Sapporo and close to Lake Shikotsuko for stages near the towns of Tomakomai, Chitose and Eniwa, which were all used in 2008.  The final day heads north-east of the city for two loops of three new stages near the towns of Sunagawa, Bibai and Naie, taking the route further north than in 2008.  Drivers tackle 26 stages covering 303.54km in a route of 1220.43km.

Alongside the Citroën C4 for Petter Solberg and Chris Patterson, the PSWRT will also run a second car for the upcoming Rallye de France. Frenchman Yvan Muller will drive Petter Solbergs Citroën Xsara, together with codriver Gilles Mondesir. Yvan Muller will enter the rally under Automeca, but the car will be technically runned by the Petter Solberg World Rally Team. The Citroën Xsara is the same car as Petter Solberg used in the championship in 2009 (last event Finland 2009), but with a new chassis.

- I think this will be good fun for both our team and for Yvan, says Petter Solberg. – The Xsara is extremely good on tarmac, and I’m confident Yvan will enjoy driving it. I do know him a bit from before, he is really a great guy, and also a very good driver! I’m sure we will have a great weekend in France, and a good rally.

41 year old Yvan Muller is from the Alsace region of France. He is currently leading the drivers WTCC Championship, 5 points ahead of Gabriele Tarquini. Yvan Mullers team is also leading the Manufacturers Championship. Yvan was WTCC World Champion in 2008.

Source : PetterSolberg.com

After a couple of very testing days, the last leg of Rally Germany was much shorter with 85 timed kilometres. The crews were back among the Moselle vine yards and covered the Dhrontal and Moselwein stages twice. The rally finished with the Circus Maximus Super Stage in the streets of Trèves.

Sébastien Loeb and Dani Sordo, comfortably installed in the first two places in their C4 WRCs, left the Trèves service park on Pirelli P-Zero soft tyres. The Citroën Total World Rally Team drivers opted for steadiness rather than sheer speed as their only aim was to see the finish. “It’s not always obvious, but we wanted to consolidate our positions insofar as it was possible,” said Loeb in the mid-leg service halt. “On soft rubber we had more grip on the few damp sections and we were ready to cope with possible showers.”

“The outcome was decided yesterday in the Panzerplatte stage,” confirmed Sordo. “Today, we had nothing to gain and everything to lose. The double that looked on the cards would be a great coup for Citroën in the context of the World Championship for Manufacturers.”

Like the first run though the stages, the second one enabled the Citroën drivers to make the double an ever greater reality. In front of a crowd that was rooting for him, Loeb put on a show in the Circus Maximus stage and crossed the finishing line victorious for the eight consecutive time. “It’s always a great pleasure to win here. I love driving the C4 WRC on asphalt and it’s all the more motivating when you’re in front of such a large, enthusiastic crowd!” laughed the six-time world champion. “Once again I was able to count on a perfect, quick and reliable car that really got the best out of the tyres, This is my fifth win in 2010 and brings me one step closer to my ultimate aim – my seventh world title on the trot.”

“I’m very happy with this rally, my first with Diego Vallejo in the right-hand seat,” added Sordo, second in Rally Germany for the third time. “Sébastien was just a tad quicker than me on a regular basis. There was nothing between us on the first day until he made the break in the longest stage. This being said, I met the team’s expectations and helped it open up a bigger gap in the Manufacturers’ Championship.”

“Citroën monopolised the podium as in Mexico, Portugal and Bulgaria,” added Olivier Quesnel, the Citroën Racing Team Principal. “Of course, our only aim in this rally was victory, but it’s always a very powerful feeling. For Citroën Racing, the fact that the C4 WRC has equalled the Xsara’s score is also a big thrill. Thirty-two successes in fifty-two rallies – and counting!

Fastest times in the stages
Day 1 – SS1 to 3: Sébastien Loeb (Citroën C4) – SS4: Petter Solberg (Citroën C4) – SS5: Loeb – SS6: Dani Sordo (Citroën C4).
Day 2 – SS7: Loeb – SS8: Sordo – SS9 and 10: Loeb – SS11: Solberg – SS12 and 1 : Sordo – SS14: Solberg.
Day 3 – SS15: Solberg – SS16: Loeb – SS17: Solberg – SS18: Loeb – SS19: Kimi Räikkönen (Citroën C4).

Best performers: Loeb, 9 fastest times – Solberg, 5 – Sordo, 4 – Räikkönen, 1.

Leaders: SS1to 19: Loeb.

Provisional overall classification

The Ulster Rally gets underway in one week, based in Antrim to the north east of Ireland. The start of this event will have a special significance for the DS3 R3, which makes its competition debut. The crew of Bryan Bouffier/Xavier Panseri are determined to showcase the capabilities of the latest challenger from Citroën to the best of their abilities.

Behind the scenes, the entire Citroën Racing team is eager to see their car in action, which was created in the French company’s workshops and then developed over a bespoke test programme. But this will be the first time that the DS3 goes head to head with its rivals, before being offered for sale to customers. In a baptism of fire, Citroën’s latest two-wheel drive machine, equipped with a 210-horsepower engine, will rack up its first competitive miles on extremely specialised terrain. Irish asphalt is notorious for its lack of grip and bumpy surfaces, which the new car will face over the 205 stage kilometres of the rally. The famously changeable weather in Ulster could also play a key role over the course of the event. Whatever happens, French driver Bryan Bouffier – who was an important part of the new car’s development programme – will be doing his best to take the DS3 R3 towards the top of the leaderboard, although he will face con! siderably more powerful local opposition.

Jean-François Liénéré, in charge of customer competition at Citroën Racing, commented: “While we have been very pleased with our progress in testing, nothing replicates real competition. The Ulster Rally is a very tricky event where competitors have to deal with narrow roads that offer little grip. The variable weather conditions in Ireland are capable of springing both nice and nasty surprises so these are sure to be a determining factor in the outcome of the rally. The ideal result for us in Antrim would be to win Group R and finish in the top five overall. From a sporting point of view, Ireland and Great Britain are very important customer competition markets for our company. Citroën has a strong presence thanks to the Citroën Racing Trophy, which boasts a high profile and several top quality drivers. These people are very interested in the new DS3 R3 and I believe that our latest challenger will live up to all their expect! ations.”

Not only the drivers, but also thousands of fans are looking forward to seeing the new Citroën out in anger for the first time next week. The cars will be flagged off the ramp for the start of the Ulster Rally in the early afternoon of Friday 20 August.

Three questions to… Bryan Bouffier

You’ve been chosen for the competition debut of the Citroën DS3. How are you going to approach this event?

I was the first driver to test the Citroën DS3 R3 and now it is a great honour for me to be at the wheel when it has its first taste of competition. I’m going to start this rally hugely motivated, with my objective being to show the world just how fantastic this new car is.

This will be the first time that you have competed on a rally in Ireland. Have you already driven on similar surfaces?

It’s true that this is going to be a completely new experience for me: I’ve never had the chance before to contest any British or Irish Championship events. The roads in Ireland are well known for being bumpy with several jumps throughout the rally. But I’m not worried at all: I know that the DS3 R3 will be very forgiving and consistent on these types of roads, whatever the conditions.

You helped to develop the DS3 R3. What do you think of the car?

From the very first time I drove it, my feeling was immediately good. The Citroën DS3 R3 is easy to drive and it’s a huge pleasure to be behind the wheel. There are some interesting technical innovations as well. I’m thinking in particular of the hard work we accomplished on the suspension, but also on the torque from the engine and the sequential gearshift. All this makes the DS3 R3 a really formidable machine.

Useful information

Ulster Rally (20-21 August)

Surface: asphalt

Where: Antrim

Practical information: The service park is located at the “International Outlet Shopping Centre” (GPS N 54 43.781 and W 06 13.840). Rally HQ and the media centre are located at the Holiday Inn Express (Junction One International Shopping Centre, Ballymena Road, Antrim, BT41 4LL: GPS N 54 43.683 and W 06 13.567). There is a one-hour time difference between Ireland and central Europe, so when it is 11h00 in Antrim, it will be 12h00 in France. On the first day of the rally the sun will rise at 06h08 and set at 20h44. The local currency is the pound sterling (1 EUR = 0.82 GBP).

Reconnaissance: This will take place on Thursday 19 August from 09h00 to 22h00.

Start: Friday 20 August, leaving the service park at 13h15.

Route: The route has a total length of 686.2 kilometres, of which 204.6 kilometres are competitive. There are 14 special stages (seven different stages).

Timing: Day 1 – 325 kilometres of which 85 kilometres are competitive (6 special stages – 3 different stages)
Day 2 – 361.3 kilometres of which 119.5 kilometres are competitive (8 stages – 4 different stages).

Final podium: Saturday 21 August from 17h15.

For Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena, Rally Germany is an exceptional event. Since its reintegration into the World Championship calendar in 2002, the Franco-Monegasque pair have won it on every occasion and they are determined to pursue their unbeaten record! In the Citroën Total World Rally Team’s second C4 WRC, Dani Sordo will have a new co-driver for the first time, Diego Vallejo.

After Bulgaria, Rally Germany is the second of the four asphalt rallies in the 2010 FIA World Championship. This event has nothing but good memories for the Citroën Total World Rally Team beginning with Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena’s first real victory (2002). Six more successes have followed, and Seb and Daniel hold the record for the number of consecutive wins in the same event.

An eighth success would enable the six-time world champion duo to improve their statistics, but that would be purely incidental. Should the French national anthem rings out on Sunday at the Porta Nigra in Trier, it will signify that the Citroën crew is well on its way to another world title. In the eight rallies already run this season, Loeb and Elena have always finished on the podium and four times on the topmost step. With 48 and 61 points in hand over Sébastien Ogier and Jari-Matti Latvala, the leaders find themselves in an ideal situation – one which they can still improve!

“I’ve always felt good in this rally and things have always gone well for me here. My aim in Germany is obviously an eighth victory,” says Loeb who will be racing only a few dozen kilometres away from his native Alsace. “But three other good drivers also have C4 WRCs, the best car of the moment. That means that I’m going to have to pull out all the stops to stay in front of them. It’s an interesting challenge as the three legs are all different. The stages among the Mosel vines have nothing in common with those in the Baumholder military camp. As is often the case, the weather can play a very important role in the outcome of the event, so it looks like it‘s going to be an exciting and unpredictable race.”

After competing in Rally Finland in the Citroën Junior Team, Dani Sordo is back in the cockpit of the no. 2 C4 WRC. The Spaniard will be backed up by Diego Vallejo, who has replaced Marc Marti. “It isn’t a sudden decision, but I reached the conclusion that there were some things I had to change to progress,” explains Dani. “Marc has given me a lot over the past six seasons and we parted on friendly terms. Diego and I have known each other for a long time; we’re on the same wave length and I think we’re going to work together in real harmony. It will be his first outing in Rally Germany but I don’t think it’s one of the most difficult events for a co-driver.” Dani was second in this event in 2006 and 2008 and intends to do at least as well this year. “As in Bulgaria, I’ll try and score the maximum number of points for Citroën. It won’t be easy and in particular, I will have to watch out in the 4! 7-km stage in the military camp. It’s very hard on tyres and you have to adopt the right rhythm to avoid punctures.”

Three questions to Olivier Quesnel

Let’s look back on Rally Finland. With Sébastien Ogier in second place and Sébastien Loeb just behind, several people expected you to inverse the positions

“Like in Portugal we opted for the sporting aspect by not interfering in the classification in an artificial manner. You had to have an overview of the situation. Mikko Hirvonen had retired and Petter Solberg was behind our two drivers. Third place for Sébastien Loeb was a very good result in the context of the drivers’ championship. By leaving Sébastien Ogier in second place we were able to keep up the pressure on Jari-Matti Latvala. At the same time, this result meant that Ogier didn’t lose too many points in relation to Latvala, his direct rival in the championship. I’d like to add that we talked the situation through with our two drivers and Sébastien Loeb told us that he didn’t want to finish second in such conditions.”

Does that mean you’ll allow your drivers to fight it out between themselves till the end of the season?

“Citroën Racing’s aim is to keep the World Rally Championship Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ titles. At present, we’re on target to achieve this as Sébastien Loeb and Citroën lead both championships. As in Finland, we’ll have to analyse each situation as it arises.”

Dani Sordo will have Diego Vallejo as co-driver in this rally. Is it the start of a new season for him?

“I certainly hope so! With the exception of Rally Bulgaria, Dani has experienced a fairly difficult season so far. It became obvious that a change was necessary as the rallies unfolded. It was up to him to take the decision. He’s made his choice calmly after examining several possibilities. We’d like to welcome Diego Vallejo, and we hope he’ll help Dani to finish the season on a high note. I’m still convinced that his first victory in the world championship isn’t too far off.”

Information

ADAC Rally Germany (round 9/13) (19 – 22 August)

Surface: Asphalt – Where: Trier

Practical info: The service park is in Trier Messepark. The HQ and Media Centre are in the Park Plaza Hotel in Trier. There is no time difference between Germany and France. On the first day of the rally Friday 20th August, the sun will rise at 6h30 and set at 20h41. In August, the average temperature is between 12°C in the morning and 29°C in the afternoon. The euro is the local currency.

Technical: The two Citroën C4 WRCs will have the engines used in Finland which will also be used in Japan. The transmissions and spare parts are shared with Rally Bulgaria (already run).

Tyres: Each crew can use 54 Pirelli P-Zero tyres maximum in this rally (shakedown included). Two types are available: soft (32 tyres max) and hard (46 tyres max).

Reconnaissance: It is scheduled for Tuesday 17th August from 9h00 to 19h30 and on Wednesday 18^th August from 8h00 to16h30 with two passages maximum in each stage.

Shakedown: Thursday 19th August between 8h00 and 12h00 to the west of Trier near the villages of Mesenich and Grewenich as in 2008 on a 5,80-km stage whose start is 16,72 km from the service park.

Press conference: Thursday 19th August at 13h30 in the Media Centre.

Start: Thursday19th August from Porta Nigra at 20h00.

Route: 1194,63 km long including 407,31 timed km. 19 stages (10 different).

Timing: Day 1 Friday 20th August – 385,82 km including 134,04 timed km (6 SS, 3 different).–SS1: ‘Ruwertal / Fell’ (24,01 km) – SS2: ‘Grafschaft Veldenz’ (23,09 km) – SS3: ‘Moselland’ (19,92 km) – Service A (13h09 / 30 min) – SS4: ‘Ruwertal / Fell’ (24,01 km) – SS5: ‘Grafschaft Veldenz’ (23,09km) – SS6: ‘Moselland’ (19,92 km) – Service B (17h38 / 45 min) – Last car in parc fermé at 21h45.

Day 2 – Saturday 21st August: 576,92 km including 187,58 timed km (8 SS, 4 different). Start: 6h30 – Service C (6h40 / 15 min) – SS7: ‘Hermeskeil / Gusenburg’ (11,34 km) – SS8: ‘St. Wendeler Land’ (16,95 km) – SS9: ‘Freisen / Westrich’ (17,50 km) – Remote Service ‘Birkenfeld’ (9h52 / 15 in) – SS10: ‘Arena Panzerplatte’ (48,00 km) – Service D (13h20 / 30 min) – SS11: ‘Hermeskeil / Gusenburg’ (11,34 km) – SS12 : ‘St. Wendeler Land’ (16,95 km) – SS13 : ‘Freisen / Westrich’ (17,50 km) – Remote Service ‘Birkenfeld’ (16h47 / 15 min) – SS14: ‘Arena Panzerplatte’ (48,00 km) – Service D (19h45 / 45 min) – Last car in parc fermé at 23h45.

Day 3 – Sunday 22nd August: 231,89 km including 85,69 times km (5 SS, 3 different). Start: 6h15 – Service F (6h25 / 15 min) – SS15: ‘Dhrontal’ (22,58 km) – SS8: ‘Moselwein’ (18,08 km) – Service G (9h18 / 30 min) – SS17: ‘Dhrontal’ (22,58 km) – SS18: ‘Moselwein’ (18,08 km) – SS19: ‘SSS Circus Maximus Trier’ (4,37 km) – Service H (13h26 / 10 min) – Finish at 13h36.

Podium: 22nd August from 15:45

Final press conference: Sunday 22nd August in the Media Centre at 14:30.

Crews before this rally:
Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena: First WRC Rally Spain 98 (Saxo Kit-Car / Rtd.) – WRC Rallies: 132 – Rally wins : 58 – Titles: 6 (2004 to 2009)
Dani Sordo: First WRC Rally: Spain 03 (Lancer Evolution / 18th) – WRC Rallies: 79 – Junior Title : 2005 (C2 S1600).
Diego Vallejo: First WRC Rally: Spain 96 (Citroën ZX / 25e) – WRC Rallies: 19.

Crews at the start of Rally Germany:
Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena: 8th participation: 2002 (Xsara WRC / 1st) – 2003 (Xsara WRC / 1st) – 2004 (Xsara WRC / 1st) – 2005 (Xsara WRC / 1st) – 2006 (Xsara WRC / 1st) – 2007 (C4 WRC / 1st) – 2008 (C4 WRC / 1st).
Dani Sordo: 6th participation: 2004 (Mitsubishi Lancer / 19th) – 2005 (C2 S1600 / 13th) – 2006 (Xsara WRC / 2nd) – 2007 (C4 WRC /Rtd.) – 2008 (C4 WRC / 2nd).
Diego Vallejo: 1st participation.

The Citroën Total World Rally Team crews improved their positions on the second day of Rally Finland. Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia in their first race for the works team, finished in a magnificent second place a few seconds in front of Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena. This double podium has helped the Citroën Total World Rally Team to increase its lead in the FIA Manufacturers’ World Championship.

After a short night, the crews left the Jyväskylä service park in pouring rain. Around 100 kms from there, the stages of the first of the three loops were also soaking wet. Sébastien Ogier was on the pace straight away in the rally setting the fastest time in Kolonkulma (SS12). In Väärinmaja, the longest stage of the event, it was Sébastien Loeb’s turn to stun the onlookers. By setting the second-best time, Ogier took second place from Petter Solberg and got to within 15s of the leader, Jari-Matti Latvala! The latter fought back in the following stage, but the C4 WRC drivers were more than pleased at the end of the first three stages.

“I’m trying to keep up the pace while leaving myself a small safety margin. My aim’s not to go after Jari-Matti, but to see the finish in the best possible position,” underlined Ogier. As for Loeb he had third place in his sights: “The gaps between Sébastien, Jari-Matti and me are fairly small this morning. On the other hand, Petter Solberg has lost time and I’m only a few seconds behind him. We’re going to continue to push to overtake him.”

The six-time world champion achieved his objective with two more fastest times in Leustu 1 and Himos 1 (SS15 and 16). Ogier was also setting a searing pace and he closed the gap to Latvala. After posting the fastest time in SS17 (Surkee 2), the Frenchman reduced the Finn’s lead to only 10 seconds!

The rally ended with a second passage through the Leustu and Himos stages. Ogier kept up the pressure on Latvala right till the end: “Even if it’s difficult for me to be satisfied with second place, I have to say that this result is even better than I expected. For our second Rally Finland, we were able to up the pace without overdoing it. I’m very satisfied with the second day as we’ve finished only ten seconds behind the winner. I’d really like to thank the whole team, which helped to fight right up till the finish.”

Loeb, who came home third, was also satisfied: “Bravo to Jari-Matti and Sébastien who drove great rallies. It’s good for the sport that the team didn’t give any orders at the end of the race. The fifteen points I scored today are a precious help in view of the championship. I’ve achieved my aim in this rally.”

“With our crews finishing in second and third places, we’ve increased our lead of eight points in the Manufacturers’ Championship,” summed up Olivier Quesnel, the Citroën Racing Team Principal. “Citroën loves the sport and again we chose not to ask our drivers to reverse their positions. Bravo to the two Sebs as they knew how to drive very quickly without making any mistakes.”

Fastest times in the stages

Day 1 – SS1: Petter Solberg (Citroën C4) – SS2 and 3: Mikko Hirvonen (Ford Focus) – SS4: Sébastien Ogier (Citroën C4) – SS5: Dani Sordo (Citroën C4) – SS6 and 7: Jari-Matti Latvala (Ford Focus) – SS8: Sébastien Loeb (Citroën C4) – SS9: Latvala – SS10: Loeb – SS11: Solberg.
Day 2 – SS12: Ogier – SS13: Loeb – SS14: Latvala – SS15 and 16: Loeb – SS17: Ogier – SS18: Latvala – SS19: Ogier.

Best performers: Latvala and Loeb, 5 fastest times each– Ogier, 4 – Hirvonen and Solberg, 2 each – Sordo, 1.

Leaders: SS1: Solberg – SS2 and 3: Hirvonen – SS4 to 6: Solberg – SS7 to 19: Latvala.

Provisional Final General Classification

1. Latvala / Anttila                              Ford Focus                2h 31m 29.6s
2. Ogier / Ingrassia                           Citroën C4                 +10.1s
3. Loeb / Elena                                  Citroën C4                 +26.0s
4. P. Solberg / Patterson                  Citroën C4                 +30.7s
5. Sordo / Marti                                   Citroën C4                 +1m 45.0s
6. Wilson / Martin                               Ford Focus                +5m 43s
7. Ostberg / Andersson                    Subaru Impreza         +5m 50.8s
8. Kankkunen / Repo                        Ford Focus                +7m 49.0s
9. Hänninen / Markkula                     Skoda Fabia              +9m 05.0s
10. Andersson / Fredriksson           Skoda Fabia               +10m15.7s

BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team drivers Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila won a thrilling Rally Finland today to earn a place in the history books. The Finns won this eighth round of the FIA World Rally Championship for the first time by 10.1sec in a Ford Focus RS World Rally Car, joining a long list of Finnish greats who have triumphed in their home event.

Latvala and Anttila were mobbed by their fellow countrymen as they took to the podium in Jyväskylä this evening.  Twenty-five-year-old Latvala, already the youngest driver to win a world rally, became the youngest winner of Rally Finland since the WRC started in 1973.  It was Ford’s second consecutive victory in the legendary event following the success of Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen in 2009, and the manufacturer’s fourth win in five years.

After a short opening speed test on Thursday evening, organisers packed 18 more stages and 310.05km of action into just two long and demanding days instead of the usual three, providing a blend of sprint and endurance.  The rally was fought out over dauntingly fast roller-coaster forest roads in central Finland, and it lived up to its reputation as the fastest in the championship with average speeds reaching 133.09kph.

The weather was as hot as the action on the stages.  The rally began on a day when the thermometers recorded Finland’s highest-ever temperature of 37.2ºC.  The heatwave gave way to thunderstorms which left much of central Finland without electricity yesterday while many roads were blocked by fallen trees, but the rally ran without interruption.

Latvala moved into the lead yesterday afternoon, building a 9.1sec overnight advantage.  He extended that to 22.5sec this morning before road conditions turned against him.  Overnight rain, which bound together slippery surface gravel and provided more grip, died out and a stiff breeze quickly dried the roads.  Latvala was first in the start order and faced the unwanted task of sweeping loose stones from the surface to leave cleaner and faster conditions for those behind.

His lead dropped to 10.6sec with two tests remaining, but Latvala remained unflustered in the face of huge pressure to record his fourth WRC victory and second win of the 2010 season.

“It’s amazing to win my home rally and it’s something I have dreamed of since I was a small boy,” he said.  “The first time I watched this rally was in 1992 when I was seven and the only thing I could think about then was that I would never be able to drive as fast as the stars I was watching.  In 2003 I drove this rally for the first time and still I never thought I would win.  To win in front of my home fans, in a country where rallying means so much to everyone, is a dream.

“The team had some difficult times in the summer but both drivers led this rally and I won.  It’s a hugely important victory for the team and Ford.  It was only during the final two stages that I really thought I could do it.  I’ve learned that if you relax and make no mistakes then you can have a good rally.  There have been so many people watching and it was a fantastic atmosphere – this is the best rally in the world,” he added.

Team-mates Hirvonen and Lehtinen retired from the lead yesterday morning after crashing heavily following a jump, while the third car of Abu Dhabi’s Khalid Al Qassimi and Michael Orr also rolled into retirement yesterday afternoon.  Neither crew was injured.

BP Ford Abu Dhabi team director Malcolm Wilson was delighted to oversee victory in his favourite rally.  “After a difficult few months, the team has dug deep and bounced back to win the most celebrated rally in the calendar.  There has been so much effort and commitment from the entire team in recent weeks and this is our reward.  It was a stunning drive from Jari-Matti.  There was a lot of pressure on his young shoulders when Mikko Hirvonen crashed out yesterday but he handled it superbly and displayed great maturity in a difficult situation,” he said.

Ford of Europe motorsport chief Gerard Quinn said: “There is no better place for Ford to win a rally than Finland.  It is one of motorsport’s classic events and to triumph here, after leading for virtually the entire event, is a dream come true.  Jari-Matti joins some of Ford’s great Finnish drivers who have won their home event, world champions like Marcus Grönholm, Ari Vatanen and Hannu Mikkola.  He faced intense pressure here for two days but the mature way in which he handled it shows how well he is progressing as one of the sport’s rising stars.”

News from other Ford teams

Stobart M-Sport Ford’s Matthew Wilson and Scott Martin finished sixth in a Focus RS WRC, two places ahead of Finnish rally legend Juha Kankkunen and Juha Repo.  The four-time world champion returned to the sport for a one-off guest appearance almost eight years after his last WRC event.  Henning Solberg and Ilka Minor crashed out yesterday in the team’s third car.

Next round

The championship returns to asphalt next month when drivers tackle vineyard tracks and military roads in Rallye Deutschland.  The rally is based in Trier on 19 – 22 August.

Final positions
1.  J-M Latvala/M Anttila               FIN             Ford Focus RS   2hr 31min 29.6sec
2.  S Ogier/J Ingrassia                 FRA             Citroen C4              2hr 31min 39.7sec
3.  S Loeb/D Elena                      FRA             Citroen C4              2hr 31min 55.6sec
4.  P Solberg/C Patterson               NOR             Citroen C4              2hr 32min 00.3sec
5.  D Sordo/M Marti                     ESP             Citroen C4              2hr 33min 14.6sec
6.  M Wilson/S Martin           GBR             Ford Focus RS   2hr 37min 13.3sec
7.  M Østberg/J Andersson               NOR             Subaru Impreza  2hr 37min 20.4sec
8.  J Kankkunen/J Repo          FIN             Ford Focus RS   2hr 39min 18.6sec
9.  J Hänninen/M Markkula               FIN             Skoda Fabia             2hr 40min 34.6sec
10 P-G Andersson/A Fredriksson  SWE             Skoda Fabia             2hr 41min 45.3sec

Drivers
1.  S Loeb                      166pts
2.  S Ogier                     118pts 
3. J-M Latvala 105pts
4.  P Solberg                     90pts                
5.  M Hirvonen            86pts
6.  D Sordo                       77pts

Manufacturers
1.  Citroen Total               265pts
2.  BP Ford Abu Dhabi 210pts
3.  Citroen Junior              155pts
4.  Stobart M-Sport Ford        108pts
5.  Munchi’s Ford                 40pts

Stage Times

Stage 12: 1. Ogier 5min 06.4sec; 2. Latvala + 1.0; 3. Loeb + 1.3; 4. P Solberg + 4.1; 5. Sordo + 5.7; 6. Ostberg + 8.2.
Overall: 1. Latvala 1hr 15min 38.1sec; 2. P Solberg + 12.2; 3. Ogier + 20.8; 4. Loeb + 32.3; 5. Sordo + 48.4; 6. Wilson + 2:46.1.

Stage 13: 1. Loeb 14min 46.9sec; 2. Ogier + 1.7; 3. Latvala + 7.3; 4. Sordo + 7.8; 5. P Solberg + 11.9; 6. Ostberg + 16.1.

Overall: 1. Latvala 1hr 30min 32.3sec; 2. Ogier + 15.2; 3. P Solberg + 16.8; 4. Loeb + 25.0; 5. Sordo + 48.9; 6. Wilson + 3:16.4.

Stage 14: 1. Latvala 9min 56.4sec; 2. Ogier + 7.3; 3. Loeb + 8.1; 4. P Solberg + 11.8; 5. Sordo + 17.9; 6. Ostberg + 21.2.

Overall: 1. Latvala 1hr 40min 28.7sec; 2. Ogier + 22.5; 3. P Solberg + 28.6; 4. Loeb + 33.1; 5. Sordo + 1:06.8; 6. Wilson + 3:51.0.

Stage 15: 1. Loeb 10min 08.8sec; 2. Ogier + 1.1; 3. P Solberg + 3.2; 4. Sordo + 6.1; 5. Latvala + 7.5; 6. Ostberg + 12.7.

Overall: 1. Latvala 1hr 50min 45.0sec; 2. Ogier + 16.1; 3. P Solberg + 24.3; 4. Loeb + 25.6; 5. Sordo + 1:05.4; 6. Wilson + 4:15.1.

Stage 16: 1. Loeb 10min 28.5sec; 2. Ogier + 0.4; 3. Latvala + 4.2; 4= P Solberg, Sordo + 7.7; 6. Ostberg + 11.5.
Overall: 1. Latvala 2hr 01min 17.7sec; 2. Ogier + 12.3; 3. Loeb + 21.4; 4. P Solberg + 27.8; 5. Sordo + 1:08.9; 6. Wilson + 4:41.1.

Stage 17: 1. Ogier 9min 53.6sec; 2. Latvala + 1.7; 3. P Solberg + 2.9; 4. Loeb + 3.9; 5. Sordo + 9.5; 6. Ostberg + 13.6.

Overall: 1. Latvala 2hr 11min 13.0sec; 2. Ogier + 10.6; 3. Loeb + 23.6; 4. P Solberg + 29.0; 5. Sordo + 1:16.7; 6. Wilson + 5:00.0.

Stage 18: 1. Latvala 9min 59.9sec; 2. Ogier + 0.5; 3. P Solberg + 1.4; 4. Loeb + 2.6; 5= Sordo, Ostberg + 10.6.
Overall: 1. Latvala 2hr 21min 12.9sec; 2. Ogier + 11.1; 3. Loeb + 26.2; 4. P Solberg + 30.4; 5. Sordo + 1:27.3; 6. Wilson + 5:26.8.

Stage 19: 1. Ogier 10min 15.7sec; 2. Loeb + 0.8; 3. Latvala + 1.0; 4. P Solberg + 1.3; 5. Ostberg + 8.4; 6. Wilson + 17.9.

Overall: 1. Latvala 2hr 31min 29.6sec; 2. Ogier + 10.1; 3. Loeb + 26.0; 4. P Solberg + 30.7; 5. Sordo + 1:45.0; 6. Wilson + 5:43.7.

Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila lead Rally Finland for the BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team after today’s dramatic opening leg. The Finnish duo delighted their home fans by winning three speed tests to build a 9.1sec advantage in their Ford Focus RS World Rally Car.  Team-mates Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen led the rally initially, but the 2009 winners crashed heavily and although both escaped injury, their car was severely damaged and will not restart tomorrow.

This eighth round of the FIA World Rally Championship is based in its traditional home of Jyväskylä, in central Finland.  Organisers have taken advantage of new-for-2010 rules to pack all the action into just two long and demanding legs, instead of the usual three.  The opening leg, which began with a short speed test last night, comprised 147.27km of competition on dauntingly fast, roller-coaster gravel roads to the west and north-east of the host city.

The action was as hot as the temperatures, which reached an all-time high in Finland of 37.2ºC yesterday.  Although overnight thunderstorms left a trail of devastation across the centre of the country, the rally ran without interruption and the pace was blistering.  Average speeds on one afternoon special stage reached 133.09kph.

Latvala was third after last night’s opening stage and quickly established himself in second this morning following Hirvonen’s crash.  His first stage win this afternoon promoted him to the top and he gradually extended his advantage through the rest of the leg.

“It’s a dream to be in this position,” said Latvala.  “When I arrived in the service park tonight the grandstands were full and all the fans cheered and applauded me.  That gave me a real boost.  It’s too early to think about winning though, I’m just concentrating on one stage at a time.  Mikko’s retirement put more pressure on me, but it didn’t change my way of thinking.  I saw his car and had to drive around it a little because it was partly in the road.

“I hurt my back after a jump in Urria this morning but I had some treatment from our physio before the second loop and it feels fine now.  I need a perfect day tomorrow.  I want to find a good balance with my driving and keep a cool head.  The first two stages are the most difficult of the rally but because they are so challenging, I enjoy them.” he said.

Hirvonen, lying second after last night’s short opening speed test, was fastest through both the 12.75km Urria and the 22.29km Jukojärvi special stages this morning to build a 4.9sec lead in his Focus RS WRC.  However, the 29-year-old Finn crashed shortly after the midpoint during the second pass through Urria.

“The section at which I crashed is my favourite corner on any stage, anywhere in the world,” said Hirvonen, whose accident spoiled his 30th birthday celebrations tomorrow.  “It happened at a fast right corner which led into a jump.  I landed after the jump in the perfect place on the road but the car pulled left and started rolling.  I was surprised the landing pulled the car across the road so violently.  It happened so fast that I had no time to react.

The car rolled up the road five times and Hirvonen estimated his landing speed was 140kph.  He and Lehtinen went to hospital for precautionary checks but were uninjured.  “It was my biggest accident ever.  I’m so disappointed because this is my home town rally and I had the speed to win.  The car is too badly damaged to continue, but my young sons are here and want to watch the rally cars, so I will spend the day spectating with them,” added Hirvonen.

Abu Dhabi’s Khalid Al Qassimi and Michael Orr were ninth in the team’s other Focus RS WRC, before they rolled into retirement on the sixth stage.  “Finland is a tough rally.  The terrain is rocky, there are frequent crests, and the stages are some of the fastest in the WRC.  It was an exciting day up until this point and the roll was really unfortunate.  This is my fourth time competing in Finland, but the conditions can catch out even the most experienced driver,” said Al Qassimi.  The car was too badly damaged for the duo to restart tomorrow.

BP Ford Abu Dhabi team director Malcolm Wilson reflected on a day of mixed fortunes.  “Jari-Matti had a brilliant day but it was a disappointing end for Mikko.  We made some small improvements to our car during testing last week and it feels good to be back at front-running pace again.  The stages here are so fast that it’s easy to make a mistake so Jari-Matti must not relax for a single second tomorrow,” he said.

News from other Ford teams

Stobart M-Sport Ford’s Matthew Wilson and Scott Martin are sixth in a Focus RS WRC, the Britons enjoying a troublefree day apart from handling difficulties this afternoon.  Team-mates Juha Kankkunen and Juha Repo are just one place behind, the four-time world champion driver competing on his first WRC event for eight years.  Henning Solberg and Ilka Minor enjoyed a good run to fifth before they rolled into retirement on the seventh stage.  They, too, will be unable to restart tomorrow.

Tomorrow’s Route

The second and final leg is even longer than today’s marathon.  After leaving Jyväskylä at 05.50, drivers journey south-west for three loops of stages covering 162.78km.  They return to the city for the finish ceremony at 19.45.

Leaderboard after Day 1
1.  J-M Latvala/M Anttila               FIN             Ford Focus RS   1hr 10min 30.7sec
2.  P Solberg/C Patterson               NOR             Citroen C4              1hr 10min 39.8sec
3.  S Ogier/J Ingrassia                 FRA             Citroen C4              1hr 10min 52.5sec
4.  S Loeb/D Elena                      FRA             Citroen C4              1hr 11min 02.7sec
5.  D Sordo/M Marti                     ESP             Citroen C4              1hr 11min 14.4sec
6.  M Wilson/S Martin           GBR             Ford Focus RS   1hr 13min 06.0sec
7.  J Kankkunen/J Repo          FIN             Ford Focus RS   1hr 13min 41.4sec
8.  K Räikkönen/K Lindström             FIN             Citroen C4              1hr 13min 48.9sec
9.  J Hänninen/M Markkula               FIN             Skoda Fabia             1hr 14min 15.0sec
10 M Rantanen/M Lukka           FIN             Skoda Fabia             1hr 14min 56.1sec

Stage Times

Stage 1: 1. P Solberg 2min 33.2sec; 2. Hirvonen + 1.0; 3= Latvala, Loeb + 1.6; 5= H Solberg, Ogier + 3.2; 10. Al Qassimi + 6.4.

Stage 2: 1. Hirvonen 5min 55.8sec; 2. Latvala + 2.1; 3. Loeb + 3.0; 4. P Solberg + 3.9; 5. Ogier + 4.0; 6. Sordo + 4.2; 12. Al Qassimi + 18.4.

Overall: 1. Hirvonen 8min 30.0sec; 2. Latvala + 2.7; 3. P Solberg + 2.9; 4. Loeb + 3.6; 5. Ogier + 6.2; 6. Sordo + 7.0; 11. Al Qassimi + 23.8.

Stage 3: 1. Hirvonen 10min 33.7sec; 2. P Solberg + 2.0; 3. Loeb + 4.2; 4. Latvala + 5.9; 5. Sordo + 6.2; 6. Ogier + 9.2; 14. Al Qassimi + 40.0.

Overall: 1. Hirvonen 19min 03.7sec; 2. P Solberg + 4.9; 3. Loeb + 7.8; 4. Latvala + 8.6; 5. Sordo + 13.2; 6. Ogier + 15.4; 11. Al Qassimi + 1:03.8.

Stage 4: 1. Ogier 5min 52.9sec; 2. Latvala + 0.4; 3. P Solberg + 2.0; 4. Sordo + 1.3; 5. H Solberg + 4.2; 6. Loeb + 7.5; 9. Al Qassimi + 14.1.

Overall: 1. P Solberg 25min 02.5sec; 2. Latvala + 3.1; 3. Sordo + 8.6; 4. Loeb + 9.4; 5. Ogier + 9.5; 6. H Solberg + 20.0; 10. Al Qassimi + 1:12.0.

Stage 5: 1. Sordo 10min 28.7sec; 2. Latvala + 1.7; 3. P Solberg + 3.5; 4. Ogier + 5.8; 5. H Solberg + 6.5; 6. Loeb + 13.0; 10. Al Qassimi + 14.1.

Overall: 1. P Solberg 35min 34.7sec; 2. Latvala + 1.3; 3. Sordo + 5.1; 4. Ogier + 11.8; 5. Loeb + 18.9; 6. H Solberg + 23.0; 9. Al Qassimi + 1:38.6.

Stage 6: 1. Latvala 12min 03.3sec; 2. P Solberg + 1.2; 3. H Solberg + 4.3; 4. Ogier + 6.5; 5. Loeb + 10.3; 6. Sordo + 11.3.

Overall: 1. P Solberg 47min 39.2sec; 2. Latvala + 0.1; 3. Sordo + 15.2; 4. Ogier + 17.1; 5. H Solberg + 26.1; 6. Loeb + 28.0.

Stage 7: 1. Latvala 3min 04.4sec; 2. P Solberg + 2.8; 3. H Solberg + 3.5; 4. Ogier + 3.7; 5. Loeb + 4.2; 6. Sordo + 5.8.

Overall: 1. Latvala 50min 43.7sec; 2. P Solberg + 2.7; 3. Ogier + 20.7; 4. Sordo + 20.9; 5. H Solberg + 29.5; 6. Loeb + 32.1.

Stage 8: 1. Loeb 7min 07.8sec; 2= Latvala, Ogier + 0.3; 4. P Solberg + 5.5; 5. Sordo + 11.2; 6. Ostberg + 12.4.
Overall: 1. Latvala 57min 51.8sec; 2. P Solberg + 7.9; 3. Ogier + 20.7; 4. Loeb + 31.8; 5. Sordo + 31.8; 6. Wilson + 2:06.5.

Stage 9: 1. Latvala 3min 01.4sec; 2. Ogier + 1.4; 3. P Solberg + 1.5; 4. Loeb + 1.9; 5. Sordo + 4.8; 6. Ostberg + 6.6.
Overall: 1. Latvala 1hr 00min 53.2sec; 2. P Solberg + 9.4; 3. Ogier + 22.1; 4. Loeb + 33.7; 5. Sordo + 36.6; 6. Wilson + 2:13.2.

Stage 10: 1. Loeb 6min 59.8sec; 2. Ogier + 0.7; 3. Latvala + 1.7; 4. P Solberg + 2.3; 5. Sordo + 6.6; 6. Ostberg + 14.8.

Overall: 1. Latvala 1hr 07min 54.7sec; 2. P Solberg + 10.0; 3. Ogier + 21.1; 4. Loeb + 32.0; 5. Sordo + 41.5; 6. Wilson + 2:32.0.

Stage 11: 1. P Solberg 2min 35.1sec; 2= Latvala, Loeb + 0.9; 4. Ogier + 1.6; 5. Sordo + 3.1; 6. Raikkonen + 3.3.
Overall: 1. Latvala 1hr 10min 30.7sec; 2. P Solberg + 9.1; 3. Ogier + 21.8; 4. Loeb + 32.0; 5. Sordo + 43.7; 6. Wilson + 2:35.3.

For 60 years now, the 1000 Lakes Rally – which then became the Rally Finland – has been a classic fixture for all the crews. The event is often nicknamed the ‘Jyväskylä Grand Prix’ and it has featured seven times in the top 10 fastest rallies ever held in the history of the World Rally Championship. The quickest Rally Finland took place in 2005, with an average speed of 122.86 kph recorded on the event.

For the eighth round of the season, Citroën Racing has made some adjustments to its team nominations. Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia join the Citroën Total World Rally Team for the first time, while Dani Sordo and Marc Marti form part of the Citroën Junior Team as team mates to Kimi Räikkönen and Kaj Lindström. The Spanish crew will also be nominated to score points for the Citroën Junior Team in Japan and Great Britain this year.

“The objective of the Citroën Junior Team is to allow young drivers to perform to the best of their abilities at the highest level,” pointed out Team Manager Benoit Nogier. “We have seen this goal being achieved with Sébastien Ogier and we are very happy for him. His results reflect the hard work that the entire team has put in since the start of the season. We hope to be at the same level with Dani, so that he too can show what he is capable of.”

Dani Sordo, aged 27, is currently sixth in the World Championship standings and has finished on the podium twice this year, thanks to third place in Portugal and second in Bulgaria. The Spaniard looks upon his new association with the Citroën Junior Team as a fresh opportunity. “I’ll be feeling less pressure,” he said. “By switching teams, I won’t always have to drive with the fundamental need to score manufacturer points for Citroën at the back of my mind. I’m going to concentrate on just doing my own rally and delivering the best performance possible.”

For the first time in his short World Rally Championship career, Kimi Räikkönen will be starting an event that he has already contested last year. In 2009, the 2007 Formula One World Champion showed some highly impressive pace before unfortunately going off the road.

“We were able to get back up to speed on gravel thanks to a good pre-Finland test,” said Kimi. “Those testing kilometres are absolutely vital on a rally like this one. The experience from last year is certainly going to help, but there is such a performance gap between a Super 2000 machine and a World Rally Car that it’s almost like driving a different rally. I’m really looking forward to getting started. When I was in Formula One, I never got the chance to race in front of my home crowd. I know that there are going to be loads of fans out in service and by the side of the stages. For me, this is a real highlight of the season!”

Three questions to… Dani Sordo

Does joining the Citroën Junior Team feel a bit like going back to your roots?
“I started off on the World Rally Championship driving the Citroën Xsara WRC, when some people from the Citroën Junior Team were also there. These were very happy memories, and we had some good performances that helped me to secure a factory drive. There is a very nice atmosphere in the team and everybody is extremely professional. The results speak for themselves. Everything is there to enable us to have a very good rally.”

Is Finland an event you have been looking forward to this year?
“Finland a particularly tricky rally that is very fast, and so local drivers tend to do extremely well there. It’s also a rally that personally I love. The speeds we reach are very exciting for any driver and of course we have to take a few risks through the trees and over the crests. It’s an absolutely unique event. You need to have very good pace notes, and to drive precisely and decisively.”

What do you expect from this rally with the Citroën Junior Team?
“I know that I’m joining a very good team. Now it’s down to me to make the most of it. I’m going to try and give it my all on this event, as always do. For the past two years I’ve finished fourth, less than 20 seconds off the podium, and in 2009 I was only a minute behind the winner. My objective is to show that I can be competitive while setting some good times and remaining consistent throughout the event.”

Useful information

Rally Finland (round 8/13) (29-31 July)

Surface: gravel

Where: Jyväskylä

Practical information: The service park, HQ and the media centre are in the ‘Paviljonki’ in Jyväskylä. There is a one-hour time difference between Finland (GMT + 3) and central Europe (GMT + 2). So when it is 1200 in Jyväskylä, it is 1100 in Paris. On the first day of the rally, Friday 29 July, the sun will rise at 04h31 and set at 22h14. In July, the average maximum temperatures exceed 20°C. Local currency is the Euro.

Technical: The two Citroën C4 WRCs will be equipped with new engines that have to be used again in Germany and in Japan. The transmission and spare parts are also shared with the Rally Japan.

Tyres: A total of 36 soft-compound Pirelli Scorpion WRC tyres can be used, including six for the shakedown.

Reconnaissance: This will take place on Tuesday 27 July and Wednesday 28 July from 0800-1800, with a maximum of two passes allowed over each special stage.

Shakedown: This is scheduled for Thursday 29 July between 0800 and 1200 at Muurame, on a 4.46- kilometre stage that is 10.26 kilometres from the service park.

Press conference: Thursday 29 July at 1330 in the Media Centre.

Start: Thursday 29 July at the Paviljonki from 1800.

Route: Total length of 1307.87 km, of which 310.05 km are competitive. There are 19 special stages (11 different stages).

Timing: Day 1 – 661.73 km of which 147.27 km are competitive (11 stages, 6 different stages). Thursday 29 July: Start: 18h00 – SS1: Laajavuori 1 (4.19 km). Friday 30 July – Service A (0630 / 15 min) – SS2: Urria 1 (12.75 km) – SS3: Jukojärvi 1 (22.29 km) – SS4: Urria 2 (12.75 km) – SS5: Jukojärvi 2 (22.29 km) – Service B (1230 / 30 min) – SS6: Lankamaa (24.87 km) – SS7: Sirkkamäki 1
(6.45 km) – SS8: Myhinpää 1 (15.52 km) – SS9: Sirkkamäki 2 (6.45 km) – SS10: Myhinpää 2 (15.52 km) – SS11: Laajavuori 2 (4.19 km) – Service C (2030 / 45 min) – Last car into parc fermé at 2359.
Day 2 – Saturday 31 July: 646.14 km of which 162.78 km are competitive (6 SS, 5 different stages). Start: 0550 – Service D (0550 / 15 min) – SS12: Kolonkulma (10.35 km) – SS13: Väärinmaja (29.29 km) – SS14: Surkee 1 (19.59 km) Service E (1046 / 30 min) – SS15: Leustu 1 (21.35 km) – SS16: Himos 1 (20.63 km) SS17: Surkee 2 (19.59 km) – Service F (1510 / 30 min) – SS18: Leustu 2 (21.35 km) – SS19: Himos 2 (20.63 km) – Service G (1908 / 10 min) – Finish at 19h45.

Final podium: Saturday 31 July from 1945.

Final press conference: Saturday 31 July at 2030 in the Media Centre.

The crews before this rally:
Kimi Räikkönen: First WRC rally: Finland 09 (Punto Super 2000 / ret.) – WRC rallies: 7
Kaj Lindström: First WRC rally: Finland 96 (Golf GTI / ret.) – WRC rallies: 68 – Wins: 1.
Dani Sordo: First WRC rally: Spain 03 (Lancer Evolution / 18th) – WRC rallies: 78 – Junior title: 2005 (C2 S1600).
Marc Marti: First WRC rally: Spain 92 (309 / 21st) – WRC rallies: 142 – Wins: 3.

The crews before the start of Rally Finland:
Kimi Räikkönen: 2nd participation: 2009 (Punto Super 2000 / ret.).
Kaj Lindström: 11th participation: 1996 (co-driver for Ari Himanen / 27th), 1997 (Ari Himanen / ret.), 1998 (Esa Saarenpaa / ret.), 1999 (Tapio Laukkanen / 13th), 2000 (Tapio Laukkanen / ret.), 2001 (Tapio Laukkanen / 23rd), 2002 (Tommi Mäkinen / 6th), 2003 (Tommi Mäkinen / 6th), 2004 (Kristian Sohlberg / ret.), 2009 (Kimi Räikkönen / ret.).
Dani Sordo: 6th participation: 2005 (C2 S1600 / 15th), 2006 (Xsara WRC / ret.), 2007 (C4 WRC / ret.), 2008 (C4 WRC / 4th), 2009 (C4 WRC / 4th).
Marc Marti: 11th participation: 1997 (co-driver for Oriol Gomez / 23rd), 1999 (Jesus Puras / ret.), 2000 (Jesus Puras / ret.), 2003 (Carlos Sainz, Xsara WRC / 4th), 2004 (Carlos Sainz, Xsara WRC / 3rd), 2005 (Dani Sordo, C2 S1600 / 15th), 2006 (Dani Sordo, Xsara WRC / ret.), 2007 (Dani Sordo, C4 WRC / ret.), 2008 (Dani Sordo, C4 WRC / 4th), 2009 (Dani Sordo, C4 WRC / 4th).

Birthday boy Mikko Hirvonen and co-driver Jarmo Lehtinen will defend Ford’s Rally Finland (29 – 31 July) title next week in one of the shortest FIA World Rally Championship events in history.  Since the WRC’s launch in 1973, only one rally has scheduled fewer competitive kilometres than this eighth round of the 13-event series.  That was in Finland in 1975 when the event was known by its traditional name – the 1000 Lakes Rally.

The BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team duo will be joined by fellow Finns Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila for what many regard as the highlight of the season.  Rally Finland is the fastest round of the championship and with just 310.05km of competition amid the lakes and forests in the centre of the country, the action will be fast and furious, with little opportunity to atone for the slightest mistake.

Hirvonen, who fulfilled a lifetime ambition by winning last year in a Ford Focus RS World Rally Car, celebrates his 30th birthday on the final day next Saturday.  The rally, which is again based in the traditional host city of Jyväskylä and is affectionately known as the Jyväskylä Grand Prix due to its high speeds, celebrates its 60th anniversary.

Organisers have taken advantage of new-for-2010 regulations to pack all the action into just two legs.  So while the distance is shorter than other WRC rounds, drivers face almost 15 hours behind the wheel on Friday’s first full day of competition and almost 14 on Saturday, ensuring both endurance and outright speed will be a factor in determining the outcome.

Climbing onto the top step of the podium in Finland is one of the sport’s most sought-after achievements.  The rally has a huge following and enormous crowds will flock into the countryside near Jyväskylä, Hirvonen’s home town, to view the action.  Ford’s all-Finnish line-up will generate passionate support, raising both the level of expectation and the pressure on Hirvonen and Latvala.

The rally will be fought out on blisteringly fast roller-coaster gravel speed tests.  Finns who nurtured their careers on this type of road have a clear advantage over ‘outsiders’ who require several years experience before they can hope to mount a genuine victory challenge.  Only seven non-Finns have won in 59 years and such is the speed that Rally Finland boasts five of the six fastest rallies in WRC history, the 2005 event topping the standings at a remarkable average of 122.86kph.

The rally offers a mix of hard, wide and fast roads combined with narrower, more technical special stages.  They are as smooth as a billiard table and it is not a hard rally on machinery.  However, it is incredibly difficult from a driving perspective.  Awesome stomach-churning jumps frequently hide bends over the crests so the accuracy and delivery of pace notes must be exact, and selecting the correct line before ‘take-off” ensures maximum pace through the following curves.

This will be Hirvonen’s ninth start in his home event and he has also finished second twice.  He completed two days of testing yesterday (Thursday), covering about 500km.  “There were lots of good things to come from the test so I’m excited about the rally.  I’m looking forward to defending last year’s victory because I want to keep the title in Finland.  Defending the title on your home rally definitely brings more excitement in the run-up to the event,” he said.

“The two-day format will be interesting.  Recently, Sunday’s final leg has contained very few kilometres and the result was effectively decided by what happened in the previous two days.  With just two legs this year, the battle could continue through to the final stage of the rally,” he added.

Latvala finished third last season and this will be the 25-year-old’s eighth start in the rally.  “The excitement builds in Finland like no other round,” he said.  “I always have a few nerves before the start of a rally, but there are a few more before Rally Finland gets under way.  The nerves really build on the road section to the opening stage, and then when I reach the finish of that first test I think to myself ‘Wow! That was quick!’ then everything starts to settle down.

“This year’s rally is so short that I will need to be sharp from the first kilometre of the opening stage.  But there is also an endurance factor because the days are long.  I will try to get as much sleep as possible at the beginning of the week because there will be the opportunity for only about six hours sleep each night during the event itself,” added Latvala, who is testing today (Friday) and tomorrow.

The 2010 event marks the return to competition of rally legend Juha Kankkunen in a guest drive in a privately-entered Focus RS WRC.  The four-time world champion retired from full-time competition after Rally GB in 2002, which was Latvala’s WRC debut.

Abu Dhabi’s Khalid Al Qassimi and Michael Orr will drive a third Focus RS WRC for the team.  This will be Al Qassimi’s fourth start in Finland, his best result coming last year when he finished ninth.  The rally also marks the third anniversary of Abu Dhabi’s partnership with the team.  “Finland is an amazing rally and a challenge for every professional driver.  I feel very confident in my driving, so hopefully I will be able to grab some more championship points at the end of the weekend,” he said.

Team News

* Tyre partner Pirelli will provide BP Ford Abu Dhabi with one regulation tyre pattern.  The Scorpion gravel tyre will be available in soft compound only.  Teams are not allowed to hand-carve additional cuts into the rubber and each car can carry two spare wheels.

* An amazing 30 of the 101 entrants are at the wheel of Ford cars.  Matthew Wilson / Scott Martin and Henning Solberg / Ilka Minor are nominated in Focus RS WRCs by the Stobart M-Sport Ford team, which has also entered four-time world champion Juha Kankkunen / Juha Repo and Mattias Therman / Janne Perälä.  A 2005-specification Focus RS WRC will be crewed by Jouni Arolainen / Seppo Kopra.  Eight Fiesta S2000 cars are entered, four of which are competing in the S-WRC, and there are a record 14 Fiesta R2 and ST entries for the third round of the Fiesta SportTrophy International.

Rally Route

While the rally format has undergone major changes, the majority of the roads will be familiar to the drivers.  There is one all-new test, the 6.45km Sirkkamäki on Friday, and short sections elsewhere that have not been used previously, but the rest of the 310.05km route has been driven in recent years.  The service park returns to the popular Paviljonki exhibition area in Jyväskylä.  Thursday evening’s traditional super special stage at the Killeri trotting track has been dropped in favour of a forest test on the edge of Jyväskylä, which passes through the town’s ski jumping arena.  Friday’s action is based west and north-east of the town before the second leg, the longest of the event, journeys south-west for tests near Jämsä and Mänttä.  Drivers tackle 19 stages in a total distance of 1307.87km.