WRC 2009: Championship of extremes
Hirvonen took some time after Rally Australia to talk about the pressures of such a close championship battle and explain just how crucial a role Castrol has played in a 10-month championship schedule that has travelled the world – and all weathers.
“The WRC is an incredibly extreme sport,” explains Mikko. “You’ve got temperatures in Norway in February as low as -20C and heavy snow, you’ve got the high altitudes of Argentina, and you’ve got temperatures of 40C and clouds of dust in Greece.
Such highs and lows put huge pressure on both car and driver, but Mikko is happy with the package that Ford and Castrol have put together for 2009.
“You’ve also got incredibly long stages where the engine is working flat out all the time,” he continues. “The pace of competition is so close that the performance of the engine is absolutely crucial. That means that our engine lubricants need to be working to their maximum in all conditions and temperatures, and they need to be incredibly durable.”
The Castrol-backed BP Ford Abu Dhabi team has spent this season where it’s always been – right at the sharp end of the rally pack. And the results speak for themselves. Since celebrating Ford’s 70th win in the World Rally Championship at round seven in Greece, Mikko Hirvonen has won four consecutive rallies, unseating rival Sebastien Loeb from the top of the drivers’ standings.
Hirvonen says: “This year, as always, it has been crucial to score points on every rally – there’s no room for errors or problems, because there’s so little time to make up for a poor result.
“And, because the level of competition in the WRC is so close – everyone is driving flat-out – stages and rallies can be decided by seconds. So you need the engine to be working to its maximum for all three days of the rally. Success is all about getting the small details working together.”
Extreme stress
“We also manufacture parts as small and as light as possible, which means the stress on mechanical components is extreme, and they can only survive with the best possible lubricant. We’re lucky to have Castrol, because they’re the best lubricants partner to have.”
With an intensive testing programme scheduled ahead of Rally Catalunya, the Ford squad will be making sure that every detail is checked and double-checked ahead of what promises to be an engrossing finale.
Hirvonen concludes: “The championship is still wide open with just two rounds remaining in Spain and Britain. Before going to Spain I will take some training on asphalt and then test out there to be properly prepared."
It really could go down to the last stage on Sunday in Wales…
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