Please Mikko, something different this time!! (an open letter)

[ironseb]

I can´t really understand how a guy doing top 5 times on stages is a never been. For sure he´s not the same as for 4-5 yrs ago, but still. As long as he performs he´s not a "lost soul" or a "never been".

I agree with you. More than 60 podium in WRC, a lot of drivers dream about that.

[N.O.T]

I can´t really understand how a guy doing top 5 times on stages is a never been. For sure he´s not the same as for 4-5 yrs ago, but still. As long as he performs he´s not a "lost soul" or a "never been".

He is a never been... he never became champion... only losers dream about podiums...

[focus206]

Well I always liked Mikko, and he has still a good pace, but he won't ever come back to the speed he had back then. He was definitely the fastest driver after Loeb in those years (or at least the one who was able to collect more points thanks to his consistency), he had the opportunity of a lifetime in 2009 and 2011, thanks also to mistakes/retirements by Loeb and Ogier. But unfortunately he didn't make it. I really see no way for him to be back to that level...

[Rallyper]

I can´t really understand how a guy doing top 5 times on stages is a never been. For sure he´s not the same as for 4-5 yrs ago, but still. As long as he performs he´s not a "lost soul" or a "never been".

He is a never been... he never became champion... only losers dream about podiums...

He´d become champion in 2009 if Ford had played the cards right.

[RS]

I can't remember too much what rules were in place when, but I have a feeling that running order rules at one stage gave a big advantage to Mikko. I remember about Malcolm protesting to keep it that way to help his drivers (rather than have them compete on actual speed)

[Rallyper]

Well I always liked Mikko, and he has still a good pace, but he won't ever come back to the speed he had back then. He was definitely the fastest driver after Loeb in those years (or at least the one who was able to collect more points thanks to his consistency), he had the opportunity of a lifetime in 2009 and 2011, thanks also to mistakes/retirements by Loeb and Ogier. But unfortunately he didn't make it. I really see no way for him to be back to that level...

I see nothing wrong in what you´re saying, but the question was: is he a never been or a loser or even not worth a drive in WRC at the level he is at now?? For most of us here being viewers for decades he still deserves to be named as a top runner.

[Rallyper]

I can't remember too much what rules were in place when, but I have a feeling that running order rules at one stage gave a big advantage to Mikko. I remember about Malcolm protesting to keep it that way to help his drivers (rather than have them compete on actual speed)

Edit: see below.

[Rallyper]

I can't remember too much what rules were in place when, but I have a feeling that running order rules at one stage gave a big advantage to Mikko. I remember about Malcolm protesting to keep it that way to help his drivers (rather than have them compete on actual speed)

No, MAlcolm gave away Mikkos points letting JML finish ahead of Mikko and not giving teamorders as every other teams always has done. And Mikko lost two points or something like that. That year he lost the title with one point.

[COD]

His Career should have over after the lame season in Subaru 2004, was slow and not very reliable the. He has been extremely lucky to have continued so long

No. He was very fast when he joined Ford and even challenged Gronholm/Loeb some times... his spirit broke when he hit the iceberg called Loeb in 2010... from then on he is a lost soul.

NO(T). At the time he made his bakthrough, he passed many faster drivers who could have achieved same or more than he did.nthat is why he has been extremely lucky

[N.O.T]

His Career should have over after the lame season in Subaru 2004, was slow and not very reliable the. He has been extremely lucky to have continued so long

No. He was very fast when he joined Ford and even challenged Gronholm/Loeb some times... his spirit broke when he hit the iceberg called Loeb in 2010... from then on he is a lost soul.

NO(T). At the time he made his bakthrough, he passed many faster drivers who could have achieved same or more than he did.nthat is why he has been extremely lucky

what more would someone else achieve ? who could have stopped the greatest of all times ? NONE

Hirvonen just lost his spirit after 2009... it was the end of him as a competitive driver... the only thing i do not like about him is that he quit trying after 2009... maybe he was afraid that he would end up like Gronholm, always trying to beat Loeb and always FAILED.