Mikko Hirvonen fastest at Rally Ireland shakedown 29.01.2009: BP Ford Abu Dhabi Team leader Mikko Hirvonen set the fastest time at this morning’s pre-event Shakedown test for Rally Ireland. The Shakedown took place on a 2.87km stage in Formoyle, six kilometres from the Service Park in Sligo. The asphalt road was dam

BP Ford Abu Dhabi Team leader Mikko Hirvonen set the fastest time at this morning’s pre-event Shakedown test for Rally Ireland.

The Shakedown took place on a 2.87km stage in Formoyle, six kilometres from the Service Park in Sligo. The asphalt road was damp and light rain fell on and off throughout the four hour session. The temperature was eight degrees Celsius.

Hirvonen made six passes though the stage and set his quickest time on the fifth attempt.

“It felt okay but you need to be brave in these conditions,” he said. “The grip level on the road today was quite good, fairly consistent, but even here there were little bits of gravel here and there - and on those it was very difficult. It was a good test road - especially for the stages on Friday and Sunday. But the ones on Saturday are a bit different - they’re smoother and even faster.”

Sebastien Loeb was second fastest, four-tenths of a second slower in his Citroen Total C4 WRC. Chris Atkinson was third, just two-tenths slower than Loeb on his WRC debut in a Citroen Junior Team C4.

Shakedown times for leading WRC competitors:

1. Hirvonen: 1m 38.0s
2. Loeb: 1m 38.4s
3. Atkinson: 1m 38.6s
4. Sordo: 1m 39.0s
5. Latvala: 1m 39.7s
6. Wilson: 1m 39.9s
7. Aava: 1m 40.9s
8. Al Qassimi: 1m 41.2s
9. Solberg: 1m 41.4s
10. Rautenbach: 1m 41.7s
11. Ogier: 1m 42.4s

Following a ceremonial start in Enniskillen this evening, the proper competitive action gets underway on Friday with SS1 - the 22km Glenboy stage - scheduled to start at 08.13hrs.


-wrc -  photo Willy Weyens