Hat-trick for Hirvonen in Oz

Mikko Hirvonen has ended Ford’s winless streak in the World Rally Championship with victory on a drama-filled Rally Australia.

The Finn, driving a Ford Fiesta RS WRC, moved ahead of team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala on the penultimate stage when Latvala slowed to hand Hirvonen maximum points in an emotional one-two finish for the Blue Oval squad.

On the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States, which American firm Ford marked by carrying memorial stickers on its factory machines, Hirvonen has also slashed Sebastien Loeb’s world title lead following the Citroen driver’s roll on day one.

Loeb made amends by claiming 10th overall and three bonus points for winning the event-closing Power Stage. But with three rounds remaining, Hirvonen is now just 15 points behind Loeb while Ford has closed on Citroen in the manufacturers’ standings.

Hirvonen’s last win in the WRC was on Rally Sweden back in February. His triumph in New South Wales means he extends his run of victories in Australia to three.