Sport | Other Sports
BP-Ford get off to a perfect start in Japan
Abu Dhabi team end a drama-filled day of action in the Land of the Rising Sun occupying the top two positions
- Staff Report
- Published: 00:00 November 1, 2008
Sapporo: BP-Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team yesterday got off to a perfect start in Rally Japan - the penultimate round of the 15-event FIA World Rally Championship series.
Requiring maximum points 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 10 stages to hold a commanding 26.2-second 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.
Good position
"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.
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