The BP-Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team returns to action this weekend in Rally de España (2 - 5 October), the first of two Mediterranean asphalt events on consecutive weekends.
And while the Emirates’ fans eyes will be monitoring the progress of UAE driver Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi, Rally de España – round 12 of the 15-event FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) series – could go a long way to deciding the 2008 titles.
With BP-Ford Abu Dhabi and Citroen embroiled in season-long championship battles, Rally de España will see the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority-backed outfit’s lead driver, Mikko Hirvonen and four-time world champion Sebastien Loeb, resume their titanic drivers’ title duel. Hirvonen currently trails the Frenchman by eight points.
And with only four WRC rounds remaining, both 27-year old Hirvonen and new team-mate, Belgian Francois Duval – a tarmac specialist installed in the team for the next two events – know they need a strong points haul if they are to reduce Citroen’s 20-point lead in the race for the manufacturers’ crown.
"The rally gets faster and faster each year,” said the Finn. “The stages are so smooth it’s like driving on a race track - it’s crucial to find the correct braking points and the right lines through bends. We’re second in both the manufacturers’ and drivers’ points so I need to try to beat Sébastien (Loeb). That’s going to be very difficult and there’s no room for mistakes, everything has to be perfect.
“Last year barrels and bales were placed on the inside of some corners to prevent drivers taking so many big cuts, so I will try to be very precise with my pace notes during the recce but I have to go for it,” added Hirvonen, who has finished each of his five Spain starts.
And Duval was equally bullish. "This isn’t my favourite asphalt rally because the roads are fast and wide and I prefer stages that are narrow and tight. But that doesn’t alter my plan which is to take a podium finish. If I can match the pace of (Citroen’s) Dani Sordo then I should be around the top three,” said the 27-year old.
Making only his second Rally de España start, Abu Dhabi’s Al Qassimi knows he faces another stern tarmac test on his least favourite surface.
“I was fourteenth in my Spain debut last year but this time around there will be more entries and more quality drivers. I’m intending to lift my pace but with a better field that may not show in the results,” he said.
“I’m going to devise completely new pace notes because I’m now a year in to my WRC career and I feel I can push a little harder on tarmac. Last year it was hard as I was collating distances and notes for every event. My new notes will be more accurate and allow me to go for more pace.”
And Al Qassimi feels he might be finally getting to grips the tricky asphalt: “This will be my sixth tarmac event in just over a year and I’m still learning. However, before I was just happy to be driving and competing, now I’m trying to get more pace out the car. In Catalunya, I’ll focus on setting-up the car and then review my first day performance. If I feel I’m heading in the right direction, then I’ll lift my pace.
“Weather will play a key. Last year we had rain, sun, fog – it was impossible to judge corners and lines. If it’s similar this year then the safety crews will play a vital role. They drive the stages two to three hours before the drivers, and provide 75% of the terrain conditions in their report – letting me know where the loose gravel and messy corners are.
“I’d like to finish Spain with no problems and go to Corsica with another asphalt event under my belt, more confidence and ready to really give it my all. These are the last two tarmac events of the season so it’s important that I continue to make progress,” said Al Qassimi.
With Abu Dhabi’s commitment to rallying growing with every event, Al Qassimi also wished Hirvonen and Duval well in their tussle with Citroens.
“Since joining the WRC last July, Abu Dhabi has become synonymous with the sport globally. With Abu Dhabi planning to host a WRC round in the near future it is important to maintain the momentum and a second consecutive manufacturers’ crown for Abu Dhabi will have a great impact in the Emirates. I wish Mikko and Francois all the best this weekend,” added Al Qassimi.
