Hirvonen thanks Duval.
Mikko Hirvonen has paid homage to Francois Duval after the Belgian obeyed team orders and eased off in the penultimate stage of the Rally RACC Catalunya-Costa Dau𒊎rada, something that handed the Finn third place.
Hirvonen struggled early on in Spain and it wasn't until Saturday afternoon that he finally found a good rhythm♊ and felt comfortable in his BP Ford Abu Dhabi WRT Focus RS WRC08.
Mikko Hirvonen has paid homage to Francois Duval after the Belgian obeyed🌠 team orders and eased off in the penultimate stage of the Rally RACC Catalunya-Costa Daurada, something that handed the Finn thi🧔rd place.
Hirvonen struggled early on in Spain and it wasn't until Saturday afternoon that he finalꦑly found a good rhythm and felt comfortable in his BP Ford Abu Dhabi WRT Focus RS WRC08.
Although he finished the twelf🐎th round in the World Rally Championship on something of a high, by setting the pace in the final three stages, by then he was never going to be able to get P3 on merit.
However Duval purposely slowed in SS17 - the 20.51 kilometre run through Santa Marina, so th𝔍at the two swapped places, something that gives Mikko an extra point - and he needs every one he can get if he is to stand any chance of stopping Sebastie𓆉n Loeb from taking the 2008 drivers' title.
"This wasn't how I wanted to t⛦ake a podium and I really have to thank F♍rancois. He was a true team player and helped me to score an extra point," Mikko reflected.
"Winning😼 the drivers' championship will be very difficult now but it isn't out of the question so I will keep trying.
"I finally found a good rhythm yesterday a𝓰fternoon and I've learned a lot about driving on this surface this weekend."
Asked what was wron🎃g during the first part of the event, Hirvonen admitted that he was just attacking the stages 💦too much.
"I was pushing way too hard on Friday and Saturday. The car understeered too m🧸uch. When you go way too quick into the corners this is what happens, I was losing too much time because I was too fast in," he explained. "Once I sorted this ou🌱t I was able to realise the best way was to go slower in and then it turns in a little easier. I was happy with my driving after I realised that.
"Citroen will be very fast in Corsica though [the next even൲t]. I try not to have any expectations. Like I said, I was excited after the test [before Catalunya], but nothing seemed to work on Friday. I was lost. I hope I can carry it on in Corsica now and fight over there."
