MIKKO HIRVONEN WILL RETIRE FROM THE WRC

[Gambit]

 

MIKKO HIRVONEN WILL RETIRE FROM THE WRC FOLLOWING NEXT WEEK’S FINAL ROUND OF THE SEASON AT WALES RALLY GB (13 - 16 NOVEMBER).

Following speculation over his 2015 plans, the 34-year-old Finn confirmed today (Thursday) that he will bow out after 13 seasons at the top.

Hirvonen plans to devote more time to his family after a career in which he finished runner-up in the drivers’ championship four times, and played a key role in Ford winning back-to-back manufacturers’ titles in 2006 and 2007.

“Throughout the many years of my competitive career, I have focused on myself a lot. Rallying has taken up a large part of my life and the pace of the calendar has been fairly unrelenting.

“I have enjoyed absolutely every minute of it and although I still love driving now, I would also like to concentrate more on other important things which are part of my life, like my children and my family,” said Hirvonen, who has claimed 15 wins and 68 podiums from 162 starts.

Hirvonen at home - Mikko in Finland in 2014

He made his WRC debut in 2002 and spent most of his career driving for Ford, apart from a year at Subaru in 2004 and two seasons at Citroen in 2012 and 2013. He returned to Ford this year as lead driver for M-Sport World Rally Team.

“I have so many incredible memories from the last 13 seasons. I have travelled all around the world, met some fantastic people and have loved every rally and every fight I’ve had with some exceptional drivers. I won some and lost some, but I will look back on these moments to the end of my days with a great big smile on my face,” he said.

Hirvonen reserved special thanks for co-driver Jarmo Lehtinen, who partnered him 

 

on all but two starts.

“It has been a privilege to work with Jarmo and none of this would have happened without him. We met for the first time at Helsinki Airport in 2001, before flying to Italy where we were meant to be competing on our first rally together.

 

Greatest rivals - Hirvonen with Sébastien Loeb before their 2011 Wales Rally GB title duel

“It was the beginning of a great friendship. In these 13 years full of laughter, adventures, wins, losses and passions, we have experienced everything together,” he said.

Hirvonen had the misfortune to be at his peak at the same time as nine-time world champion Sébastien Loeb and the duo enjoyed a huge rivalry.

“They were the greatest battles and the ones I loved the most, whether they were won or lost. Seb was a rival and team-mate for whom I had, and still have, a lot of respect and I think the feeling was mutual,” he added.

 

MIKKO HIRVONEN IN NUMBERS

FACT TOTAL

Starts:162

Wins:15 

Runner-up:28 

Podiums:68 

Stage wins: 259 

Points scored:1192 

Consecutive wins: 4 

Consecutive podiums: 8 

Consecutive points finishes:22

 

[Jay762]

I can see him doing a great trade in rally training schools - pass on some of those skills :)