TO HEAR THE INTERVIEW IN FULL WITH MIKKO HIRVONEN: CLICK HERE
Mikko Hirvonen finds himself in uncharted territory this year, fighting tooth and nail for the World Rally Championship drivers' crown with the reigning 'king'
Sebastien Loeb. As he heads now to Finland, for his home event and the ninth round in the WRC, he does so as championship leader.
Crash.net Radio's Russell Atkins spoke to the
BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team man recently at the Goodwood Festival of Speed...
Crash.net:
Mikko, how are you enjoying being here at the Goodwood Festival of Speed?
Mikko Hirvonen:
It is really relaxed. We are doing some driving and having fun with the cars, signing some autographs and talking to people. It is really, really good.
Crash.net:
Are you taking the car on both the rally stage and up the hill?
MH:
Yeah we are doing both - the hill climb and the rally stage. Okay, the car has not got gravel suspension, so we are just sliding around on the hill climb - but I am sure it is good fun for the spectators.
Crash.net:
Obviously looking back on the year so far, you must be very pleased?
MH:
It has been a fantastic first half. We are leading and while there are some tarmac rallies coming, there are some very good gravel rallies to come too. I think it is going to be an interesting fight now in the second half of the season.
Crash.net:
Did you expect to be in this position at the start of the year?
MH:
I thought if everything goes perfectly we had a chance to fight against Sebastien. It's not been perfect, but he has had some problems as well. I think we have just been consistent enough scoring points in every rally and here we leading.
Crash.net:
Sebastien Loeb is a very tough rival isn't he?
