Motorsport: Fast on the loose gravel

The man in the driving seat of the BP Ford Abu Dhabi No1 car, Mikko Hirvonen, is hoping the mechanical gods are smiling on him for a change in New Zealand.

The fast Finn was frustrated last time the World Rally Championship visited these shores. While leading on the final day, he suffered a puncture on the last stage letting Sebastien Loeb sneak home to win his second Kiwi title.

This year, Hirvonen is quietly confident his time may have come on the fast, flowing gravel roads of New Zealand.

"I like racing here in New Zealand. The roads are some of the best in the world to race on," said Hirvonen.

"I have good memories of the rally from last year and it's always gone very well here, well, for the most anyway.

"We've always been strong here, but obviously the Citroens have been good as well. It's not going to be an easy job, but I feel good and think we'll be able to fight for the lead."

Hirvonen dropped to third on the championship ladder after the Rally of Turkey and is just one point behind former world champion Petter Solberg - who is a whopping 40 points back from defending WRC champion and six-time world champ Loeb.

It's a long season though; the Kiwi race is only round five of a 13-race title chase.

"We're a bit behind in the points and it's not the best position to be in. It's still a long way to go in the championship, but I need to win rallies. If I get second and third places it's not going to help me at all.

"So I have to aim for the win in all the rallies."

Despite not being happy with his position in the race for the world title, Hirvonen is taking the positive out of the situation knowing he'll not be first on the road when racing starts in earnest.

As current championship leader, Loeb will be first away this morning at the opening stage at Waipu Gorge followed by Petter Solberg.

"It's true that you don't want to be first on the road, especially if there's a lot of loose gravel. My road position to start is very good but there are a lot of fast guys behind me.

"I'm not going to be alone in being helped by drivers starting in front of me. There are some fast drivers behind me like Ogier and Sordo."

The cat among the pigeons at the moment is Solberg and his privately funded team. From a works-team point of view, he's probably regarded as a bit of a spoiler, taking points away from the Citroen and Ford works drivers.

But for fans of underdogs, he's the fly in the ointment to be celebrated. Anyway, if you are fast enough to be at the sharp end of the points table, it shouldn't matter who's the sponsor.

"I think it's good for the championship. We've been saying we need more drivers who are fighting for the wins. Petter had a few difficult years with the Subaru but he's found his feet again and is getting more comfortable with the new car. I think it's good.

"Of course he can mess around and take the points from us but that's part of the game, but I don't mind," said Hirvonen.

The last time Hirvonen was in Auckland, and racing on the roads north of the city, was back in 2005 in a Group-N car. So any pace notes he may have had lying around will be of no use at all.

It's all change for 2010, and not just for Hirvonen and his pace notes. The worrying thing is this may just be the last time New Zealanders get to see the international stars of car control in our backyard.

"I will miss New Zealand for sure. I don't believe it will be the last one. Everyone [drivers] loves the rally here and I think it will be back here some day."