Hirvonen slipped to second in the drivers' championship following the recent round in the Greece and is now one point behind
Sebastien Loeb. That one point difference though will mean Mikko will now start behind the Frenchman on leg 1, and as such Seb will have to play the 'road sweeper' and clear the loose gravel for those behind, leaving a cleaner and faster line.
Mikko is hoping that will be critical and help him in his bid to regain top spot and secure what would be his second win of the season.
"This rally is very similar to Greece," said the 27-year-old, who has competed in Turkey three times, taking second in 2006, the last time it was part of the WRC.
"The surface is hard and the roads are reasonably wide. Some stages can be quite abrasive on the tyres but the problem comes if it starts to rain. Two years ago it rained heavily before the event and the roads were a mud bath.
"I really hope that it stays dry because that means that Sebastien, my rival at the top of the drivers' table, will be first in the start order in the worst of the conditions.
"I've struggled in that position on the last two rallies during the first day so it will be interesting to see how he copes. I prefer this situation of being a point behind him in the drivers' championship and having a better start position, than being a point ahead and having to start ahead of him."
Jari-Matti Latvala meanwhile wants to bounce back from his Greek disappointment and put his Focus RS WRC07 on the rostrum. Latvala came away from the Acropolis with just two points after problems on day one and day two cost him time and left him at the tail-end of the points.
Indeed despite showing good speed again, the 23-year-old conceded that he needs to find a better balance and be aware of just what he can and can’t do with his car.
Although he has only competed in Turkey once before - back in 2004 when he retired - he thinks this lack of experience might actually work in his favour and stop him from over attacking.
