as partner BP-Ford clinches 2007 Manufacturer title*
The capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi, was celebrating yesterday, as its partner in the FIA World Rally Championship, BP-Ford clinched the Manufacturers’ title of the 2007 series*. Mikko Hirvonen responded perfectly to his brief to finish in sixth place or better, reaching the finish ramp in fourth in the Ford Focus RS World Rally Car, the position he held for the duration of the event.
The pressure was heaped on the young Finn’s shoulders on the first day of the event, when team-mate Marcus Grönholm crashed out on the fourth stage. Abu Dhabi’s rally representative Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi completed his fourth and final event of the 2007 series in an excellent 15th place overall, to complete his program of directly representing the emirate in the world’s most dramatic form of motorsport.
Present to join in the celebrations was Ahmed Hussein, Deputy Director General of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, the body responsible for bringing the emirate into the WRC. “Abu Dhabi cars have been seen all around the world this year, from Ireland to New Zealand, and this marvellous achievement rewards the team’s year-round dedication and hard work,” said Ahmed Hussein.
“I extend not only my congratulations to everyone in the team but also my thanks, as they are playing a vital role in establishing the name of the UAE capital in all corners of the world.
“Rallying is sport without borders and one where everyone is welcome - it is like a big family. This is one of the reasons we chose to partner with what we believe is the world’s most dramatic form of motorsport, and the manufacturers’ victory only adds to what has been a brilliant debut season for Abu Dhabi’s WRC involvement.”
Abu Dhabi’s ground-breaking partnership with Ford in the World Rally Championship forms part of its range of initiatives to build awareness of the emirate as a world-class destination for leisure, culture and business. The prominence of the sport, with global TV audiences of 800 million is also the reason why Abu Dhabi has recently become Official Destination Partner of the WRC, giving it further opportunities to promote the destination to the global rally community.
BP-Ford World Rally Team Director Malcolm Wilson was also delighted with the team’s achievement this weekend, bringing the second Manufacturer’s title to Ford in as many years. "It has been a solid, reliable drive by Mikko and Jarmo. Mikko fully understood the role he had to play and did that superbly, with increasing maturity throughout the season and he and Jarmo are established as one of the world’s best partnerships and natural successors to their retiring colleagues. “The result of his steady drive this weekend and the whole team’s hard work all season is a second consecutive Manufacturers’ title – it’s a great achievement. We now head to Rally GB looking to win the drivers’ title too and we’ll be giving Marcus all the support he needs to really go for it.”
Sheikh Khalid al Qassimi endured a difficult rally, coping with weather conditions that were so bad that even the local drivers, who many expected to excel, were complaining. “What an event! Firstly, congratulations to Marcus, Mikko and the whole team for claiming the Manufacturers’ title, It has been an amazing experience watching them in action and I’m looking forward to linking-up with Mikko again next year. I’m sure that Marcus will also stay close to the WRC family because he has been such an amazing ambassador for the sport.
“For me, this season has been about gaining experience and learning the car and the various surfaces I’ve had to contend with in my four events.
“I have a lot more WRC events next season, and I would like to again extend my gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon, the ADTA Chairman, everyone in the Authority and of course all of my fans in the UAE who have given me the confidence to represent Abu Dhabi in the WRC.
“It is a tremendous honour and one that fills me with pride. I hope I have made everyone proud of Abu Dhabi, and I’ll be going into next season determined to keep on spreading the name of the UAE capital and representing my country to the best of my ability.”
With the manufacturers’ title secured, the Abu Dhabi-backed BP-Ford World Rally Team now heads for the final round of the 2007 season, Wales Rally GB where Marcus Grönholm, now trailing Sebastien Loeb by six points after the Frenchman’s win in Ireland, will be hoping for more luck than he had in Ireland.
Wales Rally GB runs from 30 November to 2 December, the same weekend as the Middle East Rally Championship season-ending Dubai International Rally. Team Abu Dhabi driver Al Qassimi – who leads the MERC standings by two points - will be hoping home advantage sees him lift a second MERC drivers’ title so he can celebrate alongside Grönholm at the end of the season.
*Subject to the official publication of the results by the FIA
