Rallye Monte Carlo
After a stunning victory in Britain, Ford is defending its title at Rallye Monte Carlo with the help of an exciting new-look squad
Cork, 18 January, 2008 – Just 53 days after ending its FIA World Rally Championship winning season with victory in Britain, Ford is ready to race again. Back-to-back manufacturers' champion Ford launches its title defence on the legendary Rallye Monte Carlo (24 - 27 January).
Much is new for 2008 in the Blue Oval squad. Including a new team identity, a striking new colour scheme for its Focus RS World Rally Car and an exciting new driver line-up which blends youth and experience.
The newly-named BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team heads into the opening round of the 15-event series with the same-specification Focus RS that lifted the 2007 title. Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen, who finished third in the drivers' championship last season after winning three events, will be joined by fellow Finns Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila, who have been promoted to the official works team after two years in the privately-entered Stobart VK M-Sport line-up.
This is Hirvonen’s fifth Rallye Monte Carlo. He explained: “I can't wait to get started again. I will begin every rally thinking about winning, but if I can't do that then second place is where I need to be. It will be difficult for me to take on Marcus Grönholm's role in the team but I feel ready for it. I learned much from him during the last two seasons and now it is time for me to move on and show that I too can fight for the drivers' title.”
Once again based in Valence, Rallye Monte Carlo is essentially an asphalt event on technically straight-forward roads but unpredictable weather can make it devilishly difficult. Drivers can face dry roads, streaming wet asphalt and treacherous ice, with the threat of snow on higher ground. They can often encounter all on the same stage as the route climbs and descends inhospitable mountain cols, switching from southern facing roads sheltered from extreme weather to exposed northern ones.
Latvala comes into the team on the back of a superb end to the 2007 season, when he claimed his first podium in Ireland and won a string of special stages in Britain. He is ready for whatever the rally offers. Abu Dhabi's Khalid Al Qassimi will drive a third official car on his Rallye Monte Carlo debut. The 35-year-old will renew his partnership with co-driver Michael Orr, the pair having won the 2004 FIA Middle East Rally Championship together.
Following the success of the WRC’s first visit to Ireland in 2007, next year’s 2009 WRC series will kick off in Ireland in January and as with last year, it will be a cross-border event based in Sligo.
The newly-named BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team heads into the opening round of the 15-event series with the same-specification Focus RS that lifted the 2007 title. Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen, who finished third in the drivers' championship last season after winning three events, will be joined by fellow Finns Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila, who have been promoted to the official works team after two years in the privately-entered Stobart VK M-Sport line-up.
This is Hirvonen’s fifth Rallye Monte Carlo. He explained: “I can't wait to get started again. I will begin every rally thinking about winning, but if I can't do that then second place is where I need to be. It will be difficult for me to take on Marcus Grönholm's role in the team but I feel ready for it. I learned much from him during the last two seasons and now it is time for me to move on and show that I too can fight for the drivers' title.”
Once again based in Valence, Rallye Monte Carlo is essentially an asphalt event on technically straight-forward roads but unpredictable weather can make it devilishly difficult. Drivers can face dry roads, streaming wet asphalt and treacherous ice, with the threat of snow on higher ground. They can often encounter all on the same stage as the route climbs and descends inhospitable mountain cols, switching from southern facing roads sheltered from extreme weather to exposed northern ones.
Latvala comes into the team on the back of a superb end to the 2007 season, when he claimed his first podium in Ireland and won a string of special stages in Britain. He is ready for whatever the rally offers. Abu Dhabi's Khalid Al Qassimi will drive a third official car on his Rallye Monte Carlo debut. The 35-year-old will renew his partnership with co-driver Michael Orr, the pair having won the 2004 FIA Middle East Rally Championship together.
Following the success of the WRC’s first visit to Ireland in 2007, next year’s 2009 WRC series will kick off in Ireland in January and as with last year, it will be a cross-border event based in Sligo.
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