Motorsport: Hirvonen driven on by unlucky near-miss

Finn Mikko Hirvonen is philosophical about how things ended the last time around in New Zealand but another near-miss is providing plenty of motivation as the World Rally Championship returns to North Island roads this week.

Hirvonen was in the running last year for his maiden world title going into the final round, the Rally of Great Britain, only to be pipped by a solitary point after finishing runner-up in Wales.

His challenge in a nail-biting climax to the season came unstuck late on the final day when his bonnet came partially unhinged after a jump and began to flap, obscuring his view.

Frenchman Sebastien Loeb went on to claim the rally in his Citroen, and with it his sixth world crown.

For 30-year-old Hirvonen, one of the leading contenders in the Rally of New Zealand field, the frustration of coming so close is something he will carry through this season.

"Losing it by one point only is definitely going to make me want to try even harder," he said.

"I'm definitely going to aim for a win in all the rallies that there are."

After a ceremonial start in Auckland on Thursday night, Rally NZ will take drivers through special stages from Whangarei to the north to Raglan in the south over Friday to Sunday.

The round is the fifth of 13 that make up the world championship, and Loeb has established a clear lead on the points table after winning the past three events - in Mexico, Jordan and Turkey.

With points ranging from 25 to one awarded to the top-10 placegetters, Loeb is on 93, while Norway's Petter Solberg, driving a Citroen as a privateer, is second on 53.

One point further back is Hirvonen, who won the season-opening Rally Sweden, pushing Loeb into second place.

"It hasn't been perfect," Hirvonen said of his year so far.

"It started well with the win in Sweden, but the last two rallies I've made mistakes, especially in Jordan, where I made a big mistake. I still don't understand how that happened but it's a long season and we can still fight back."

Hirvonen said he spoke for fellow drivers when he said he liked coming back to New Zealand, where the gravel roads provide a challenging mix of open flowing sections and fast corners.

"The rally is always really nice," he said.

"The stages are in a good condition and there's a really nice rhythm to them, so it's one of our favourites every year."

His feelings about the event obviously haven't been influenced by his experience in the last Rally NZ in 2008.

He was leading going into the penultimate stage on the picturesque Whaanga Coast leg, west of Hamilton, before disaster struck.

He had a puncture and a spin and, although able to continue, he finished the event back in third place.

Compatriot and BP Ford team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala, who was second heading into the same stage, had even worse luck, hitting a rock and spinning and having to park his car by the side of the road.

The twin incidents allowed Loeb to grab the lead, which he held to the end.

"Yes, it was a bit of a disappointment," Hirvonen said.

"It all went wrong for the Ford team, but that's how it is sometimes. We had good speed back then, so hopefully we can carry on like that and maybe fight for the win."

- NZPA