Hirvonen breaks away

« It wasn't very good this afternoon but I think I can escape tomorrow. That?s the idea. » Mikko Hirvonen kept his promise. This Friday, not satisfied with his passing times, the Finn had shifted his hopes to Saturday's specials to shine. After three stages and three best times, the leader of the classification WRC is at the rendezvous.

After the good weather on Friday, rain fell in Finland, making the roads wet and more favorable for the first drivers to pass. Mikko Hirvonen (Ford Focus) is thus not penalized by his role as opener. The Finn recognized it without hesitation at the end of the first loop. “ I drove well, very cleanly and without any problems. I'm happy to be first on the road because the grip is very, very good. Maybe for the guys behind it's a little softer, and it slows them down, but for me it's quite satisfying. »

Sébastien Loeb (Citroën C4), second in the general classification, is therefore trying to keep up with the Finn. But nothing is simple on the lands of the championship leader. “ I attack really hard and I take many risks but there is nothing to do, Mikko is too fast. » If Mikko Hirvonen does not make mistakes, it will be very difficult for the Frenchman to pick up

Behind them, positions are evolving. Sébastien Ogier make the most of this start to the day, gaining two positions. The Frenchman took advantage of the decline of Henning Solberg, stopped in SS12, visibly hampered by a gearbox problem. The Citroën Junior Team driver, more incisive this Saturday, also got the better of Jari Ketomaa, over whom he is thirteen seconds ahead, well established in seventh position.

But in front of Ogier, the positions have not evolved. Dani Sordo and Jari-Matti Latvala remain in the fight for third place, even if the Finn, a victim of food poisoning, is not in the best possible condition. Matti Rantanen and Mads Östberg are in fifth and sixth places.

Three new special stages are scheduled for the morning on the tracks at the start of the day.