M.Hirvonen this year champion?

[J4MIE]

I remember last year, with Marcus not competing in Finland Mikko was a certain winner there, and we all know what happened, Mikko had no answer to Seb.

I think it will be slightly different this year and Seb might take it a bit easier, but I am still expecting it to be very close, Latvala could really affect the way the title goes too if he can make it to the end of events.

[J4MIE]

Agree as well that it is really too late for him to make a switch to F1, he's not a young guy anymore. If he gets to do a race I think it'll be very interesting to see what happens, but do think it's more of an opportunity for Red Bull to get a lot of promotion out of it. Could go either way, he could be very good or not so good, we'll see...

[N.O.T]

Everything you tell guys about Loeb is absolutely true!
But don't forget that Hirvonen doesn't have the experience
of Sebastian!!
And he is also driving with the ideal wrc car C4
I would like to see Loeb in another team fighting for the title!!
I think his future is in f1

actually Hirvonen is equally experienced with sebastien if not more experienced......

[Hartusvuori]

actually Hirvonen is equally experienced with sebastien if not more experienced......

Sebastien Loeb:

WRC starts:121
first: Catalunya 1999
latest: Poland 2009
Results
wins:52 (43.0% of starts)
second places: 20
third places: 6
total podiums: 78 (64.5% of starts)
points finishes: 87
total points scored: 747 (drivers' championship points)
DNF's: 16 (13.2% of starts)
Stage wins: 617

WRC titles:winner of 2001 FIA Cup for Drivers of Super 1600 Cars
winner of 2004 FIA World Championship for Drivers
winner of 2005 FIA World Championship for Drivers
winner of 2006 FIA World Championship for Drivers
winner of 2007 FIA World Championship for Drivers
winner of 2008 FIA World Championship for Drivers

Mikko Hirvonen:

WRC starts:94
first: Finland 2002
latest: Poland 2009
Results
wins:9 (9.6% of starts)
second places: 14
third places: 14
total podiums: 37 (39.4% of starts)
points finishes: 61
total points scored: 371 (drivers' championship points)
DNF's: 18 (19.1% of starts)
Stage wins: 138

As taken from juwra.com: Loeb, Hirvonen

[Wim_Impreza]

the one who wins it ...deserves it....

Not completely agree. Loeb was champion in 2006 because of the stupid SupeRally system. Without SupeRally, Grönholm was the champion. In my opinion, Sainz deserved the title more than Mäkinen in 1998. Mäkinen made much more driver errors that year than Sainz.

[RS]

I think Mikko has actually been helped this year by JML's inability to finish rallies. There is a good chance that JML would have been ahead of Mikko on a number of rallies and taken points off of him, unless team orders had kicked in early. I presume JML will have to play that role next weekend in Finland.

[N.O.T]

Sebastien Loeb:

WRC starts:121
first: Catalunya 1999
latest: Poland 2009
Results
wins:52 (43.0% of starts)
second places: 20
third places: 6
total podiums: 78 (64.5% of starts)
points finishes: 87
total points scored: 747 (drivers' championship points)
DNF's: 16 (13.2% of starts)
Stage wins: 617

WRC titles:winner of 2001 FIA Cup for Drivers of Super 1600 Cars
winner of 2004 FIA World Championship for Drivers
winner of 2005 FIA World Championship for Drivers
winner of 2006 FIA World Championship for Drivers
winner of 2007 FIA World Championship for Drivers
winner of 2008 FIA World Championship for Drivers

Mikko Hirvonen:

WRC starts:94
first: Finland 2002
latest: Poland 2009
Results
wins:9 (9.6% of starts)
second places: 14
third places: 14
total podiums: 37 (39.4% of starts)
points finishes: 61
total points scored: 371 (drivers' championship points)
DNF's: 18 (19.1% of starts)
Stage wins: 138

As taken from juwra.com: Loeb, Hirvonen

my god.....looking at those guys resumes makes mikko look even worse than a sick dog although they have just around the same experience.....damn....

[N.O.T]

Not completely agree. Loeb was champion in 2006 because of the stupid SupeRally system. Without SupeRally, Grönholm was the champion. In my opinion, Sainz deserved the title more than Mäkinen in 1998. Mäkinen made much more driver errors that year than Sainz.

and what about sainz title in 92 ?? and burnsies title in 2001 ??

the fact is.....rules are anounced before the season starts so every driver has his approach...you canhave the rally driver approach and win the title and you can have the sick dog approach and win the title...in both cases we have World Rally Champions.

[jens]

I don't believe in the "worst champion".

Well, just purely my view, but IMO all past WRC champions have accomplished more in their careers and been a top drawer in their primes, while Hirvonen barely makes this level in by far the worst state of competition in WRC history.

[Bazza2541]

I hope Mikko wins it, in my opinion he is the most underrated driver in WRC and will make a very fitting champion.