by Rob WilkinsBP Ford's Mikko Hirvonen has predicted that it is going to be exciting at the start of 2007, when the new season gets underway with the Rallye Monte Carlo.
Mikko ended the season with eight podiums from ten events, and while he didn't finish on the Rally GB, after being forced out following SS3, the Finn is eager to prove he can be a real contender next season, and with his first win under his belt, after triumphing in Australia, he is feeling extremely confident – and rightly so.
"There is a new year coming. From Monte Carlo everybody is on the same level – nobody has any points, everyone starts from zero. So at the start of next year it is going to be quite exciting," he confirmed to
Crash.net. "Everybody will be able to fight for points and for podiums.
"Citroen is coming with the new car. Subaru will have new tyres. Sebastien [Loeb] will be back. So, there are going to be a lot of interesting things at the start of the year. For sure there is going to be a big fight.
"The plan [for me] is to do a Sweden and Monte Carlo test now, so we won't have much time off. There is still work to do. It is quite busy. It is flat-out all the time. We have Christmas and New Year off and then we start again [with Monte Carlo]. Hopefully we can get both cars on the podium there. It is like GB though it has always been a very difficult rally for me. I have finished Rallye Monte Carlo only once, but I have been there a few times and so it is about time I got a good result and fought for the podium there."
Asked about 2006, Mikko was pleased with his form, especially as he took bronze in the drivers' championship, having scored 65 points in total, 11 more than Manfred Stohl, who took fourth.
"I am very pleased. At the start of the year, with the new car, we knew we might have some problems. In the summer though we did a few really good tests and after that it has been OK," he continued. "The team did a really good job. I think that helps.
"It has been a fantastic end to the season. We have had podiums many times and personally I think I am getting closer to Marcus [Gronholm]'s speed all the time, which is very important for me. In a way it is a shame to have gone out on the Rally GB. That was what I was trying to do on that event - really push him and I did it, but I went off. But still the season has been very good and I enjoyed it a lot."
The highlight though, was undoubtedly his win 'down under' and that result has given him a real boost.
"It is such an amazing feeling to get your first victory. I have been pushing for that for some many years and always in the back of your mind, you think: 'Will I ever do it?' But now it is in my pocket. It is safe and we will go for the next one," he added.
