Mikko Hirvonen

Since joining the Castrol-backed BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally team four years ago, Mikko Hirvonen has evolved from one of rallying’s hottest young stars, with impressive natural talent and speed, into a true title contender.

Hirvonen missed out on the World Rally Championship title to Sébastien Loeb by just one point in 2009. A stunning string of four wins and 11 podiums from 12 events brought his WRC victory tally to 11 and the title near-miss has only strengthened Hirvonen’s resolve.

"I really don’t want to lose out again!" he says. "I've been second two times in a row, and now I will just work harder to do a good job and win."

Small beginnings

While charging to the Finnish Formula 2 title in 2002, Hirvonen made his WRC debut in Rally Finland in a front-wheel-drive Renault Clio Super 1600. By his third WRC event – Rally GB – he’d upgraded to a Subaru Impreza WRC and set stage times comparable to his leading rivals. That rally also marked the beginning of Mikko’s partnership with current co-driver Jarmo Lehtinen (below).

Hirvonen: "I really don’t want to lose out again!"

As a result, Hirvonen was signed up to Ford’s works WRC squad by M-Sport team boss Malcolm Wilson. A solid campaign in 2003 was followed by a move to Subaru’s works team for 2004 to partner reigning champion Petter Solberg. But, despite a solid season, he was surprisingly left on the sidelines for 2005, and forced into using a privateer Ford Focus, run by M-Sport alongside the works Ford cars.

It proved to be the making of Hirvonen, as he surpassed expectations and achieved top results in a car that was two years older than those of his manufacturer-backed rivals. This earned him a call-up for Ford’s works team for Rally Finland and a full-time return to the factory squad for 2006.

Hirvonen and co-driver Jarmo Lehtinen (right)

Maiden win Down Under

Hirvonen scored his first career WRC win in Australia that year as he charged to third place in the drivers’ standings. Three more wins in 2007 netted another third-place finish in the points, but 2008 was the year in which Hirvonen truly became a title contender, chasing Sébastien Loeb to the crown with three wins and 11 podiums.

After playing second fiddle two years on the bounce, he wants the top spot in 2010.