"We don't know much about the Jordan Rally, so I will be on my guard a little bit. It doesn't appear to be too tough on the cars, but running first on the road will be a handicap," he continued.
While the event is new to Loeb however, his team-mate,
Daniel Sordo does have some experience to draw on, as he did the recce in 2007.
The Spaniard also took his first podium finish of the season last time out in Argentina and is keen now to build on it and again get onto the rostrum come the finish of the Middle East fixture.
"I have rarely turned up for the start of a WRC round with more experience of the event than most of my rivals [but that is the case this time]," said Dani.
"The stages tend to be fast and wide, with a surface that's as hard as concrete but which shouldn't cut up too much after the first loop.
"I think the pace will be quick but we will have to watch out for the top coating of loose gravel which will produce changes in grip. It will be unwise to stray off the ideal line, while going off isn't an option because of the deep ditches! We will aim for a podium finish."
BP Ford Abu Dhabi WRT:
[
Mikko Hirvonen, car #3 and
Jari-Matti Latvala, car #4 and
Khalid Al Qassimi, car #14]
Hirvonen: I can’t let Loeb gain ground.
Mikko Hirvonen will be a man on a mission on the Jordan Rally as he looks to try and wrestle back the lead in the drivers’ championship.
Mikko was looking strong in Argentina at the end of last month and was leading by around 50 seconds when he hit a rock in SS5 and broke his front suspension.
Although he managed to salvage something and still scored four points, having re-started under the SupeRally on day two, it wasn’t enough to stop
Sebastien Loeb from seizing the advantage in the race for the title.
Now the 27-year-old will need to ensure Loeb doesn’t pull any further ahead and ideally he will want to cut that five point deficit.
