BP Ford Abu Dhabi Team driver Mikko Hirvonen has won the Acropolis Rally of Greece, round seven of the 2009 World Rally Championship, after a perfect drive through the toughest conditions of the season in his Focus RS WRC.
The 28-year-old Finn carried a comfortable lead into Sunday's final five stages, and kept out of trouble to finish 1min 12.9sec ahead of the man in second place, Citroen Junior team driver Sebastien Ogier.
The win was the eighth of Hirvonen's WRC career and ended a victory drought that extended back to Rally Japan in 2008. After four second places this year, a perfect 10 point finish reignites his battle with Citroen's Sebastien Loeb for this year's drivers' championship title.
Two rallies ago, Mikko trailed Loeb by 20 points, but a maximum score here, combined with Loeb's exit on Saturday, means he's now just seven behind. It was a remarkable turn around for the Finn who looked in a vulnerable position as road sweeper on Saturday morning.
On the occasion of his first ever WRC podium finish, Ogier was celebrating too. Hirvonen's team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala finished third, 32.1sec behind Ogier's C4, to conclude a remarkable salvage job after going off the road on Friday. Latvala's efforts earned Ford a maximum 18 points in the manufacturers' championship, and went some way to restoring his team's faith in him after his Day one disaster.
Final Classification :
1. Hirvonen-Lehtinen (Ford Focus Wrc) in 4.09'42"5
2. Ogier-Ingrassia (Citroen C4 Wrc) + 1'12"9
3. Latvala-Anttila (Ford Focus Wrc) + 1'45"
4. Villagra-Diaz (Ford Focus Wrc) + 3'48"3
5. Rautenbach-Barritt (Citroen C4 Wrc) + 3'59"8
6. Al Qassimi-Orr (Ford Focus Wrc) + 7'04"3
7. Ostberg-Moscatt (Citroen C4 Wrc) + 12'24"9
8. Athannoulas-Zakheos (Citroen C4 Wrc) + 12'47"6
etc.
Drivers championship :
1. Sebastien Loeb 55 pts, 2. Mikko Hirvonen 48 pts, 3. Daniel Sordo 31 pts, 4. Jari-Matti Latvala 25 pts, 5. Henning Solberg 21 pts, 6. Petter Solberg 20 pts, etc.
Teams championship :
1. Citroen 94 pts, 2. Ford 79 pts, 3. Stobart Ford 49 pts, 4. Citroen Junior 24 pts, 5. Munchi's Ford 18 pts, etc.
The 28-year-old Finn carried a comfortable lead into Sunday's final five stages, and kept out of trouble to finish 1min 12.9sec ahead of the man in second place, Citroen Junior team driver Sebastien Ogier.
The win was the eighth of Hirvonen's WRC career and ended a victory drought that extended back to Rally Japan in 2008. After four second places this year, a perfect 10 point finish reignites his battle with Citroen's Sebastien Loeb for this year's drivers' championship title.
Two rallies ago, Mikko trailed Loeb by 20 points, but a maximum score here, combined with Loeb's exit on Saturday, means he's now just seven behind. It was a remarkable turn around for the Finn who looked in a vulnerable position as road sweeper on Saturday morning.
On the occasion of his first ever WRC podium finish, Ogier was celebrating too. Hirvonen's team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala finished third, 32.1sec behind Ogier's C4, to conclude a remarkable salvage job after going off the road on Friday. Latvala's efforts earned Ford a maximum 18 points in the manufacturers' championship, and went some way to restoring his team's faith in him after his Day one disaster.
Final Classification :
1. Hirvonen-Lehtinen (Ford Focus Wrc) in 4.09'42"5
2. Ogier-Ingrassia (Citroen C4 Wrc) + 1'12"9
3. Latvala-Anttila (Ford Focus Wrc) + 1'45"
4. Villagra-Diaz (Ford Focus Wrc) + 3'48"3
5. Rautenbach-Barritt (Citroen C4 Wrc) + 3'59"8
6. Al Qassimi-Orr (Ford Focus Wrc) + 7'04"3
7. Ostberg-Moscatt (Citroen C4 Wrc) + 12'24"9
8. Athannoulas-Zakheos (Citroen C4 Wrc) + 12'47"6
etc.
Drivers championship :
1. Sebastien Loeb 55 pts, 2. Mikko Hirvonen 48 pts, 3. Daniel Sordo 31 pts, 4. Jari-Matti Latvala 25 pts, 5. Henning Solberg 21 pts, 6. Petter Solberg 20 pts, etc.
Teams championship :
1. Citroen 94 pts, 2. Ford 79 pts, 3. Stobart Ford 49 pts, 4. Citroen Junior 24 pts, 5. Munchi's Ford 18 pts, etc.