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WelshLegend
20th August 2007, 19:48
I didn't know that Mikko drove a Skoda Fabia WRC in rally Japan in 2005. Apparently he had quite a big crash. Was the drive a trial that could of led to a full time drive? :confused:


Any answers would be appreciated. :)

WelshLegend
MJW
20th August 2007, 20:02
Mikko had previously driven for MSport (part season) and got a ful time drive with Subaru in 04, 2005 he had a part time programme in a private Ford Focus, (silver coloured Ponsse sponsored car, I think owned by Jari Viita) He had great results in Acropolis and Spain in this car, and I think that is what got him teh factory Focus as Marcus team mate with MSport. The Fabia drive came because few drivers had experience of Japan and as Miko had been there with Subaru in 04 he got the factory Skoda drive in 2005.
WelshLegend
20th August 2007, 20:16
ahhhh now i understand, thanks MJW
Erki
20th August 2007, 20:23
He already drove a full season with Ford in 2003, using the 02 spec Focus.
WelshLegend
21st August 2007, 08:54
He already drove a full season with Ford in 2003, using the 02 spec Focus.


i did not know that, now i do :) :)


WelshLegend
feresc13
21st August 2007, 09:01
Mikko had previously driven for MSport (part season) and got a ful time drive with Subaru in 04, 2005 he had a part time programme in a private Ford Focus, (silver coloured Ponsse sponsored car, I think owned by Jari Viita) He had great results in Acropolis and Spain in this car, and I think that is what got him teh factory Focus as Marcus team mate with MSport. The Fabia drive came because few drivers had experience of Japan and as Miko had been there with Subaru in 04 he got the factory Skoda drive in 2005.

In Catalunya - Costa Daurada 2005 he finished 3rd, only 1 second before Xevi Pons, those results get them to BP-Ford and Kronos-Citroën for a full season championship.

(But the Focus was white, not silver)
Josti
21st August 2007, 11:37
He already drove a full season with Ford in 2003, using the 02 spec Focus.


So did Jarri-Matti Latvala that year, with 17/18 years old. Probably the youngest driver ever in a works seat.
GigiGalliNo1
21st August 2007, 12:08
I can honestly see Mikko as a future champion :)
Erki
21st August 2007, 12:21
So did Jarri-Matti Latvala that year, with 17/18 years old. Probably the youngest driver ever in a works seat.

JML only drove Greece, Finland, Germany and Wales rallies. :)
Lalo
21st August 2007, 16:31
He already drove a full season with Ford in 2003, using the 02 spec Focus.

He did that as a third driver for the team, behind Märtin and Duval, such as Pons is doing this year behind Solberg and Atkinson.
Mikko previously drove in the JWRC in a Renauld Clio backed by Battery Energy Drink. I don't know exactly how his performance was, but he did very good in many rallyes in 2002 and in the Finnish Championship in previous years.

I also see Mikko as a future world champion. He's got that wood :D
Roy
21st August 2007, 17:14
I... (But the Focus was white, not silver)

Silver
http://www.ewrc-media.com/images/2005/wrc/sw/pl_a_3_hirvonen_1.jpg
Sweden
http://www.ewrc-media.com/images/2005/wrc/sa/pl_a_3_hirvonen_1.jpg
Italia
http://www.ewrc-media.com/images/2005/wrc/acr/ot_a_3_hirvonen_1.jpg
Greece


and 1 white
http://galeria.forocoches.com/data/500/medium/2x5-Hirvonen.jpg
Spain

:D
feresc13
21st August 2007, 20:46
Silver
http://www.ewrc-media.com/images/2005/wrc/sw/pl_a_3_hirvonen_1.jpg
Sweden
http://www.ewrc-media.com/images/2005/wrc/sa/pl_a_3_hirvonen_1.jpg
Italia
http://www.ewrc-media.com/images/2005/wrc/acr/ot_a_3_hirvonen_1.jpg
Greece


and 1 white
http://galeria.forocoches.com/data/500/medium/2x5-Hirvonen.jpg
Spain

:D

Exactly, in Catalunya-Costa Daurada it was white (the photo is mine)

http://fotos.subefotos.com/cb62e81985235a13a841d2561c12438ao.jpg (http://subefotos.com)

Find here some pics from Mikko driving the Skoda

http://www.ewrc-media.com/images/fotky.php?co=116&a=ot

And the tests

http://www.ewrc-media.com/images/fotky.php?co=114&a=sa
Mickey T
21st August 2007, 21:29
and this is his first year with MSport where he is not paying to drive for them.

Malcolm did well to have such an accomplished number two and an income at the same time.
DonJippo
21st August 2007, 22:46
and this is his first year with MSport where he is not paying to drive for them.

Malcolm did well to have such an accomplished number two and an income at the same time.

No wonder he had to find some new income for coming years.
Koz
22nd August 2007, 01:54
Also, Mikko wasnt the first choice for Ford. Gigi Galli was invited too, but he decided to stick with mitsu, and in turn those ungreatful *******s destroyed his career.
Helstar
22nd August 2007, 05:54
Also, Mikko wasnt the first choice for Ford. Gigi Galli was invited too, but he decided to stick with mitsu, and in turn those ungreatful *******s destroyed his career.
How true .... anyway I respect them, afterall they brought Gigi into WRC.
Now it seems over, but maybe it wouldn't have even started without them.

Hirvonen crash in Japan 2005

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9tGGTQpgVk
Tomi
22nd August 2007, 06:41
Also, Mikko wasnt the first choice for Ford. Gigi Galli was invited too, but he decided to stick with mitsu, and in turn those ungreatful *******s destroyed his career.

Lol, "he decided to stick with mitsu", you talk like if he would have other choises, from where would Galli suddenly have got the sponsor money, or do you think Ford would have changed to Pirelli?
DonJippo
22nd August 2007, 09:29
Lol, "he decided to stick with mitsu", you talk like if he would have other choises, from where would Galli suddenly have got the sponsor money, or do you think Ford would have changed to Pirelli?

Yes and Ford was simultaneously in talks with several drivers for the seat. They set the conditions for it and the one who met those was chosen I believe.
Helstar
23rd August 2007, 06:48
Lol, "he decided to stick with mitsu", you talk like if he would have other choises, from where would Galli suddenly have got the sponsor money, or do you think Ford would have changed to Pirelli?
Yes he would have another choise: Ford.
Btw, Gigi drove Mitsubishi with Michelin tyres in 2004.
Tomi
23rd August 2007, 10:18
Yes he would have another choise: Ford.


sponsored by who???
DonJippo
23rd August 2007, 11:47
Yes he would have another choise: Ford.
Btw, Gigi drove Mitsubishi with Michelin tyres in 2004.

Not entirely true, yes in his WRC outings Mitsu used Michelin but in his GrN outings he used and was sponsored by Pirelli.
Helstar
25th August 2007, 01:07
sponsored by who???
Since he was asked by Wilson himself, I guess 'nobody' ? Of course for free though (I think).

Not entirely true, yes in his WRC outings Mitsu used Michelin but in his GrN outings he used and was sponsored by Pirelli.
We were talking about WRC infact.
Tomi
25th August 2007, 09:30
Since he was asked by Wilson himself, I guess 'nobody' ? Of course for free though (I think).

So you seriously belive M.Wilson offered a seat in workscar for free to a guy who never has accived anything in WRC :laugh:
J.Lindstroem
25th August 2007, 10:30
So you seriously belive M.Wilson offered a seat in workscar for free to a guy who never has accived anything in WRC :laugh:

Well, he did it for his son. ;)
Helstar
25th August 2007, 18:30
Well, he did it for his son. ;)
LOL

So you seriously belive M.Wilson offered a seat in workscar for free to a guy who never has accived anything in WRC :laugh:
Not that Hirvonen had achieved something too back in time and he already had a works car scoring ... oh uhm well... nothing !
Later next year he took that podium on the Spain rally with a Ford.
But he is younger yea :p
Tomi
25th August 2007, 19:13
LOL

Not that Hirvonen had achieved something too back in time and he already had a works car scoring ... oh uhm well... nothing !
Later next year he took that podium on the Spain rally with a Ford.
But he is younger yea :p

Younger yes, and sponsored drives then.