SS1 : Early setback for Hirvonen

Mikko Hirvonen’s bid to win Neste Oil Rally Finland for a second time has suffered an early setback after he went off the road and struck a tree.

The Finn, who has said victory on his home rally is vital in his bid to win the world championship for the first time, reported brake and suspension damage at the end of the stage following the impact to the right rear of his car.

“We went into one left-hander and the engine died,” said Hirvonen, who was almost 40 seconds off the pace. “We went wide, hit a tree lost all the brakes. The suspension is also damaged.”

Hirvonen, currently second in the WRC drivers’ standings, has to nurse his damaged car through two more stages before he reaches the overnight service in Jyvaskyla.

Meanwhile Jari Ketomaa, making his debut in a Ford Fiesta RS WRC, caused a huge shock by setting the fastest time through the stage.

Sebastien Ogier was second fastest and said he had been “flat-out everywhere” in his Citroen DS3 WRC. Hirvonen’s team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala was third quickest after admitting to being cautious and not “pushing to the maximum”.

Sebastien Loeb, running at the head of field, was fourth quickest. He said: “I was pushing hard but it’s very dry with a lot of loose gravel. But I’m okay, I did a good stage.”

Matti Rantanen was the quickest MINI John Cooper Works WRC driver with the sixth fastest time.