Hirvonen targets wins in Japan and Wales

6th September 2010

By Richard Rodgers

Mikko Hirvonen says he can win two of the remaining four world championship rallies this season and plans to do all he can to end a largely frustrating campaign on a high note.

Hirvonen, who is no longer in contention for the drivers’ title following his retirement on Rallye Deutschland last month, believes the events in Japan and Great Britain are both winnable and feels a degree of pressure has been lifted from his shoulders now that his title hopes are over, which could help his cause on the two gravel rallies.

“There is still a chance [Ford] can win the manufacturers’ title so we need wins for that,” said the 30-year-old from Finland. “But it would be a great way to finish the season as well as we can after the problems we’ve had. There are four rallies left and I know I can win [Rally Japan and Rally GB]. I’m really going to fight for this.”

After nine rounds, Hirvonen is currently sixrh in the drivers’ standing, 105 points adrift of title leader Sebastien Loeb. Hirvonen has won on the last two occasions that the WRC has visited Japan, in 2007 and 2008.