Cancelled stages adds to cleaning handicap, says Hirvonen

The cancellation of the first day’s competitive stages on the Jordan Rally has added to the challenge faced by Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team’s Mikko Hirvonen this weekend.

He will now have just one day to recoup any time lost as a result of running first on the road this Friday.

“It’s not the greatest position to be in,” Hirvonen told WRC.com. “Normally I would have two days to catch up after a day of sweeping the road. This leaves me with one and it’s a tough event anyway.”

The first drivers on the road in gravel events are usually hindered by loose surface materials which are gradually swept away by the passage of other cars. On the Jordan Rally there is the added hazard of hundreds of sharp rocks lining the stages.

“If people aren’t playing tactics it may not be such a problem,” said Hirvonen. “It all depends how dirty the stages are. Some of them don’t look bad although some of them are a little soft.

“We will just have to make the best of it and do what we can.”