BP-Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team today got off to a perfect start in Rally Japan - the penultimate round of the 15-event FIA World Rally Championship series.
Requiring a maximum point to maintain its pursuit of a third consecutive manufacturers’ crown, the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority-backed outfit ended a drama-filled first day of action in the Land of the Rising Sun occupying the top two positions.
With the team currently trailing manufacturers’ rivals Citroen by 23 points, BP-Ford Abu Dhabi’s lead driver Mikko Hirvonen produced a flawless drive over the first ten stages to hold a commanding 26.2secs lead over his team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala.
“Today was soft, narrow and twisty but everything felt good so I pushed hard all day, I had a clear run and everything went smoothly," said 28-year-old Hirvonen, who sits 14 points behind Citroen’s four-time world champion Sebatien Loeb in the drivers’ standings.
"Tomorrow’s stages are wider and faster. The stages will require a different rhythm from today and I hope I can find that immediately," he added.
And with Citroen’s number two driver Dani Sordo retiring from Friday’s action with turbo problems, BP-Ford Abu Dhabi’s ‘Flying Finns’ have an excellent opportunity to put a 12-point dent into Citroen’s manufacturers’ lead before the WRC season finale in December’s Rally Great Britain.
The key to the team securing an 18-point, one-two podium finish in Japan looks likely to rest on the shoulders of restored number two Latvala.
After being dropped for the Championship’s last two tarmac based events, the 23-year old rediscovered a need for speed on his favoured gravel surface to end the day in second, 4.4secs ahead of Loeb.
“My position is good but it was an up and down day. I was fast and made no big mistakes but I wasn’t totally satisfied with my driving,” said Latvala.
“The conditions were challenging and I couldn’t find a rhythm in the first two stages this morning. I pushed too hard and the car was going too wide into corners. I changed the differential programme for the final stage and that really helped. I need another good performance tomorrow to keep Loeb behind me,” he added.
