NEWS // HIRVONEN TAKES VICTORY IN SWEDEN

Mikko Hirvonen, team-leader of the BP Ford Abu Dhabi Team, took the lead on Friday and successfully fought off a two-day attack from defending WRC champion, Sebastien Loeb, to win the opening round of the 2010 World Rally Championship, the Rally Sweden... [read more]

Shortly after Hirvonen and co-driver Jarmo Lehtinen crossed the finish line, the pair leapt onto the roof of their car to celebrate their win. "It's absolutely fantastic!" said Hirvonen. "And I'm really happy it's over after those last few stages; you can't imagine how nervous I was in there. It’s a perfect start to my year, I've never won the first round before, but after last season I've got one more year of experience. Now I plan to carry on like this. It’s a new game in Mexico and I can't wait to get started again."

Loeb, who was slowed by a tire failure on Saturday, began Sunday's competition trailing Hirvonen by 16.1 seconds. But after failing to overtake the Finn, Loeb backed off after SS18, settling for second place, and 18 championship points.

"It’s been a tough weekend, and Mikko has done a perfect rally," said Loeb. "We made a little mistake yesterday, but even without it I don't know if I would have been able to beat him in the stages. He was strong and he deserves his victory. I did my best. There's nothing more to say."

Third place, some 33.1 seconds behind Loeb, was Hirvonen's team-mate, Jari-Matti Latvala. "It's not been an easy weekend," said the Finn. "We were struggling on Friday, but the speed started to come right on Saturday afternoon. I'm really pleased to finish in this position on the first round of the season."

Fourth place went to Loeb's team-mate, Dani Sordo. The Spaniard finished 1:26.2 behind Latvala.

"Fourth place is not bad, but of course third would have been better," said Sordo. "The first day was okay, then we made a mistake, but that's rally sometimes. It’s okay though, we need to look to the future now. And fourth place will give me a good start position in Mexico, where the others will be cleaning the road."


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Editorial: Justin W. Coffey
Images: Abu Dhabi Ford WRC Team