RALLY ITALIA SARDEGNA
Having led the rally since stage three, Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen had no problems in finishing the job on Rally Italias short final leg on Sunday. After finishing as runners-up two times running in Sardinia and collecting eight podium finishes this season, the Finnish crew landed their first win with the Citroen Total World Rally Team. This result means that Mikko and Jarmo are now guaranteed to finish as runners-up in the 2012 World Rally Championship*.
Made up of two runs in the short Gallura stage (8.24km), the final day of Rally Italia provided little in the way ofsporting spectacle, especially as there were clear gaps between the first four in the overall standings. Even thoughbonus points were available on the second run as it served as the rallys Power Stage, the competitors still set out fromOlbia this morning with their minds more focussed on defence than attack.
With a minute and a half lead on the second-placed crew, Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen just needed to cruisehome. Despite conceding several seconds on the final two stages, the Finns made it to the final time control withoutincident. The Citroen Total World Rally Team, who won their ninth rally from the twelve held so far this year, werethrilled with the outcome.
This first win for Mikko and Jarmo with Citron was one of our goals for the end of the season, confirmed YvesMatton, Citron Racing Team Principal. We felt that we owed them something after the Rally de Portugal and so itsimmensely pleasing to see them win here. This result wasnt served up for them on a plate. They had to adopt a veryhigh level of performance from the very start and the other leading crews made mistakes when fighting with them forthe lead. The last few days have been long and testing; we also had to contend with one of the seasons most difficultcourses. After winning the Drivers and Manufacturers titles at the Rallye de France, we have now added the finalfeather to our cap with the World Championship runner-up spot for Mikko. Theres only one more step for him to takein his career and well be trying very hard to help him achieve that in 2013!
Having already finished as World Championship runners-up in 2008, 2009 and 2011, Mikko Hirvonen and JarmoLehtinen repeated the feat in claiming their fifteenth WRC win, the last of which dates back to Australia 2011. Imreally very happy with this result for my first season with Citroen. I have finished on the podium many times sinceFebruary, but I was beginning to grow irritated at not finishing on the top step! After a very short too short scrapwith Sbastien, in the end, it was actually through being patient that I won the rally. I am pleased to do it here for theteam, who have done everything they could to help me make progress. Ive done a lot of work with my engineer in thelast few weeks and I feel that I am continuing to make steady progress. I cant wait to be in Spain to finish the season instyle!* Subject to publication of the official results by the FIA.
OVERALL STANDINGS1 Hirvonen / Lehtinen Citron DS3 WRC 3:23:54.92 Novikov / Minor Ford Fiesta RS WRC +1:20.63 Tnak / Sikk Ford Fiesta RS WRC +2:21.14 stberg / Andersson Ford Fiesta RS WRC +3:42.95 Ogier / Ingrassia Skoda Fabia S2000 +4:27.56 Atkinson / Prvot Mini JCW WRC +5:22.27 Mikkelsen / Floene Skoda Fabia S2000 +6:12.58 Prokop / Hrza Ford Fiesta RS WRC +9:29.39 Solberg / Patterson Ford Fiesta RS WRC +9:52.310 Pedersoli / Romano Citron DS3 WRC +20:35.618 Neuville / Gilsoul Citron DS3 WRC +31:36.8
