Mikko Hirvonen (Citroën) takes his first win under Citroën’s colors after he dominated Rally Portugal, fourth round of the WRC championship.
Hirvonen remained the last work drivers on the road after the early retirements of his team mate Sébastien Loeb, then both Ford drivers Jari-Matti Latvala and Petter Solberg on Friday. The Finn had then to control the race in very difficult weather conditions. He concluded the event with a margin of almost two minutes over his nearest follower.
Behind Hirvonen, Mads Ostberg (Ford) and Evgeny Novikov (Ford) had a great fight for second position. Ostberg finally led the Russian driver, who clinched his first podium finish in WRC.
Petter Solberg (Ford), who was back on Saturday with the Rally 2 regulation, takes fourth position at the end of the rally ahead of Nasser Al Attiyah’s Citroën DS3. His team mate Jari-Matti Latvala, who was also back in Rally 2 on Saturday, struggled with several mechanical issues in the remaining days, and concluded in 14th position.
After this fourth round of the season, Hirvonen takes championship lead ahead of Loeb and Solberg.
Final standings – Rally Portugal (WRC)
1. Mikko Hirvonen (Citroen DS3) en 4h19min24,3s
2. Mads Ostberg (Ford Fiesta) +1min51,8s
3. Evgeny Novikov (Ford Fiesta) +3min25,0s
4. Petter Solberg (Ford Fiesta) +3min47,4s
5. Nasser Al Attiyah (Citroën DS3) +7min57,6s
6. Martin Prokop (Ford Fiesta) +8min01,0s
7. Dennis Kuipers (Ford Fiesta) +8min39,1s
8. Sébastien Ogier (Skoda Fabia) +9min00,8s
Etc.
Championship
1. Hirvonen 75 points, 2. Loeb 66, 3. P. Solberg 59, 4. Ostberg 46, 5. Novikov 36, etc.
Hirvonen remained the last work drivers on the road after the early retirements of his team mate Sébastien Loeb, then both Ford drivers Jari-Matti Latvala and Petter Solberg on Friday. The Finn had then to control the race in very difficult weather conditions. He concluded the event with a margin of almost two minutes over his nearest follower.
Behind Hirvonen, Mads Ostberg (Ford) and Evgeny Novikov (Ford) had a great fight for second position. Ostberg finally led the Russian driver, who clinched his first podium finish in WRC.
Petter Solberg (Ford), who was back on Saturday with the Rally 2 regulation, takes fourth position at the end of the rally ahead of Nasser Al Attiyah’s Citroën DS3. His team mate Jari-Matti Latvala, who was also back in Rally 2 on Saturday, struggled with several mechanical issues in the remaining days, and concluded in 14th position.
After this fourth round of the season, Hirvonen takes championship lead ahead of Loeb and Solberg.
Final standings – Rally Portugal (WRC)
1. Mikko Hirvonen (Citroen DS3) en 4h19min24,3s
2. Mads Ostberg (Ford Fiesta) +1min51,8s
3. Evgeny Novikov (Ford Fiesta) +3min25,0s
4. Petter Solberg (Ford Fiesta) +3min47,4s
5. Nasser Al Attiyah (Citroën DS3) +7min57,6s
6. Martin Prokop (Ford Fiesta) +8min01,0s
7. Dennis Kuipers (Ford Fiesta) +8min39,1s
8. Sébastien Ogier (Skoda Fabia) +9min00,8s
Etc.
Championship
1. Hirvonen 75 points, 2. Loeb 66, 3. P. Solberg 59, 4. Ostberg 46, 5. Novikov 36, etc.