"The first cars pull mud and dirt onto the road so it makes it harder for those lower down the order. It is good we have had a test just before the rally, especially after a fast, smooth gravel event like Finland. Baumholder is always rough and bumpy, while the Mosel stages are fast and the car can bounce around a lot. So it's good to get used to these conditions in advance."
Hirvonen's team-mate
Jari-Matti Latvala concurs that rain is something that could have a real bearing on the outcome of the event. He is however, still targeting a position in the top-five.
"The weather is so important on this rally," said Jari. "If it's wet then the countryside stages in Saarland are difficult, if it's dry the vineyard stages are the trickiest.
"They're very technical roads with many tight junctions and the surface is always dirty. There will be many asphalt specialists to battle with here but I posted good times on the final day in Monte Carlo so a top five finish is my target next Sunday."
Khalid Al-Qassimi meanwhile will take in his seventh event of the year in the third
BP Ford Abu Dhabi WRT entry and he wants to continue to gain experience. He is also hoping to improve on the 16th place finish he managed on the Rallye Deutschland in 2007.
"Asphalt isn't my favourite surface but you have to adapt your style and technique to suit different terrains. I learned some important lessons last year which will help my pace notes and speed. I finished 16th so I'm aiming to improve on that.
"The field is huge so breaking the top 10 will be tough but if I can finish in the top 14, keep learning, post some fast stage times and enjoy myself, I'll be happy," he summed-up.
