Mikko Hirvonen to drive Skoda Fabia WRC 2005 in Japan
Sep-02 2005 / 21:23 EDT

Mikko Hirvonen is to join the Škoda Motorsport World Rally Team to drive the second official Fabia WRC 05 for Rally Japan (September 30- October 2). The 25-year old Finn will be partnered by his usual co-driver Jarmo Lehtinen.

The Škoda Motorsport World Rally Team is continuing the policy it has adopted throughout the 2005 season of choosing the best drivers available to drive the second car alongside team regular Armin Schwarz/Klaus Wicha. Rally Japan joined the World Rally Championship in 2004 but Škoda Motorsport did not enter the event and so, as Mikko finished seventh overall on the rally, his experience will be invaluable to the team and is a key part of the decision to sign him for the rally.

Mikko first entered the WRC in 2002 and quickly caught the eye of both Ford and Subaru, both teams giving him factory drives. His best WRC results to date have included fourth place in last year’s Rally Argentina and Rally Australia. Despite a limited programme of events this year he has finished fifth in both Greece and Finland.

Quotes

Mikko Hirvonen: “I’m really looking forward to joining the new team and meeting new people. I haven’t driven so much this year so I’m really keen to get behind the wheel. It will be interesting to see what we can achieve – Japan is a very tricky rally with stages that are fast and flowing but which are also quite tricky. I won’t have much time to get used to the Fabia WRC 05 before we actually start the rally but I’m sure it’s going to be fun.”

Joan Sureda (Škoda Motorsport Team Manager): “I’m very happy that Mikko has agreed to drive for us in Japan because even just one year’s experience will be very useful to us for our debut there. Already this year he has shown great speed and I hope he will be able to bring a good result. We have used different drivers in our second car this year as it was always our plan to try and use the best drivers available. In Britain this month we will have Colin McRae, Alex Bengue will drive the second car in Corsica and Spain and we will decide later about our second driver in Australia.”