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ZitatThe eternal runner-up tries to become the number 1
Urheilu | Turun Sanomat 12:27
Mikko Hirvonen's status as the eternal runner-up in WRC sticks hard - even at home. A while ago when Hirvonen's 5- and 7-year old boys were playing a rally-race the younger boy cheered his victory on the podium by saying "and the winner is daddy, Mikko Hirvonenā€¯, the older one snapped bluntly "come on, he is always the runner-up".
32-year old Hirvonen has once been the runner-up in Finland's national rally serie and then all and all four times on silver in WRC.
Has the reputation of being the eternal runner-up already become a burden to you?
ā€“ I wouldn't say a burden, but that is how everybody thinks. You don't get away from it, although I myself don't see it that way.
ā€“ I appreciate the fact, although not necessarily proudly - that the evenness is definitely my strenght. Due to that I have been able to score points for the team, for the championships. The good results are due to me always being able to play strongly in the team's bag, Hirvonen thinks.
ā€“ Although the top speed has in a way lacked in certain places, I still have the feeling that I'm at my best when being cornered for real.
It's now - or never!
This year Hirvonen starts the WRC-serie as Citroen's only driver who has a contract for the season's all 13 rallies. Now that Sebastien Loeb can score only 112 points at the most from 4 rallies, Hirvonen is beforehand the superior championship-candiate.
Whereas Loeb has kept Hirvonen behind him, Silver-Mikko has a again usually been able to keep the others behind him.
Would that imaginary monkey fall off your back if you won the championship, just like it happens for an icehockey-player when he makes a goal after a long time?
ā€“ We'll see how it goes for us - championship or not. If we win then I can tell you more specifically about it. I mean, this is one of these "It's now or never -opportunities", Hirvonen thinks.
Marcus Grƶnholm is the last Finnish worldchampion in rally ever since year 2002 and he is the 6th Finn after Ari Vatanen, Hannu Mikkola, Timo Salonen, Juha Kankkunen and Tommi MƤkinen who has officially clinched the WC-title.
MƤkinen, who has won four championships in a row in 1996-99, he adviced Hirvonen back in the times by saying that if he is even half as good as he is, then he can expect at least two championships.
Traditions obligate
Do you feel extra pressure from Finland's rally-people who have now been waiting for 11 years for a championship?
ā€“ Of course I would want to bring back the rally-sceptre to Finland and lift us back on the rally-top again. But I haven't been there trying to do it all alone. There are many others who have also tried to beat Loeb without success. We just couldn't do anything about it, Hirvonen thinks.
Last year you concentracted on winning the WCC, is the focus now more on the driver's WC-battle?
ā€“ Of course it is, but I have always been of the opinion that in the end those two are the same thing - especially when you are in a team as driver 1 and where your goal is to get your personal championship.
ā€“ If you start from that starting point, then the WCC sort of follows behind you and you score points in two bags at the same time. That way you can take care of both tables and neither one of those situations are walking in separate directions.
Left in peace
To the French media rally is the same as Sebastien Loeb. What is Hirvonen's reputation around the world and especially in France?
ā€“ Rally is such a small sport in the world that I can be in peace and it suits me very well.
ā€“ Of course when going to a rally people know me. Even the amount of visitors have grown bigger in Facebook, which the team takes care of, so in that sense the reputation has surely grown.
ā€“ When we are in France and on our way out from some place I make Loeb leave the place five seconds before and when I tiptoe behind him nobody notices me.
ā€“ I guess one gets a status like that only after winning a few championships in a row and by changing passport. But I'm not going to change my passport, that's for sure...
Is it true that Loeb adviced you in the christmas party to drive well enough so that he doesn't have to come back and drive more rallies? ()
ā€“ Yeah, he joked like that - and who knows, it may well happen. I just have to make sure that he doesn't have to participate anymore, Hirvonen smiles.
And it seems Ogier will win the Championship. I don't like Ogier but I'm glad Loeb finally gave way for them to win something. I actually thought that this was the chance for Hirvonen to win but Ogier is really good and Hirvonen said he has a better car than him this year.
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Tue Jan 15, 2013 5:27 pm
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t" title="hat" /> I'm sure that this season will be much more interesting that in veeeery long time! 
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" title="hug" /> Do you have the numbers for the drivers for 2013? (Where can I get them?)
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