Hirvonen wins Rally Turkey!

Mikko Hirvonen in Action

BP Ford Abu Dhabi team driver Mikko Hirvonen has won Rally Turkey after a nail-biting finale that went right to the end of the final stage.

Hirvonen successfully defended his overnight rally lead, fending off enormous pressure on the final 31km Olympos stage from his team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala, and Citroen Total driver Sebastien Loeb.

A maximum 10 driver points for Mikko moves the Finn back into the lead of the 2008 championship, with a margin of three points over the man in second place, Sebastien Loeb.

“It’s fantastic!” said Hirvonen at the finish line. “But that was close!. My front tyres are finished and I had a puncture for the last few kilometers - I wasn’t sure I’d done enough!”

Latvala brought his Focus RS over the line in second, making a perfect one, two for Ford, and widening the team’s lead in the manufacturers’ competition.

“It’s been an unbelievable fight,” said Latvala as he congratulated Hirvonen. “I couldn’t have driven any better but in the end it wasn’t enough. It’s been a great fight and the final result is excellent for the team - and the sport.”

Latvala also owned up to a driving error on the penultimate stage. “I misjudged my braking on a downhill corner on SS18. I went wide and it cost me a few seconds,” he said.

Sebastien Loeb took the final podium place, the Frenchman saying his charge on the final stage was ended by tyre wear. “I tried hard, had a really good start, but like everybody we destroyed the tyres,” he said. “So I decided to go slowly to avoid a puncture. I will be back, though. We cannot win every time. Better a third place than a retirement!”

Rally of Turkey final standings:

1. Mikko Hirvonen -- BP Ford Abu Dhabi -- Focus RS WRC 07 -- 4hours 42mins 07.1secs M
2. Jari-Matti Latvala -- BP Ford Abu Dhabi -- Focus RS WRC 07 -- +00mins 07.9secs M
3. Sebastien Loeb -- Citroen Total WRT -- C4 WRC -- +00mins 25.7secs M
4. Daniel Sordo -- Citroen Total WRT -- C4 WRC -- +02mins 25.6secs M
5. Henning Solberg -- Stobart VK -- Ford Focus WRC 07 -- +02mins 33.7secs MT
6. Petter Solberg -- Subaru WRT -- Impreza WRC 2008 -- +02mins 48.2secs M
7. Matthew Wilson -- Stobart VK -- Ford Focus WRC 07 -- +04mins 24.2secs A8
8. Conrad Rautenbach -- PH Sport-Citroen -- C4 WRC -- +07mins 46.7secs A8
9. Federico Villagra -- Munchi's Ford -- Focus WRC 07 -- +09mins 34.1secs MT
10. Barry Clark -- Munchi's Ford -- Focus WRC 07 -- +14mins 48.8secs MT

[Source : WRC ; Image courtesy of BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team]