Jari-Matti Latvala and Mikko Hirvonen - only a matter of time before they rule the WRC. Photo: BP Ford WRT / Les Kolczak.
I knew that Mikko Hirvonen and Jari-Matti Latvala both were dedicated to rallying – of course everyone in the WRC top is, otherwise they wouldn’t be there. But the Ford drivers’ quotes from the post event press-conference in Norway makes me even more sure they both are upcoming dominants in the WRC. At the moment they’re just unlucky they are into the sport at the same time as the best ever rally driver who drives for the currently most consistent manufacturer. However, maybe they’ll one day be able to beat Sebastien Loeb by driving – otherwise they’ll have to wait until he gets tired of winning. But I’m sure they will win. Look at Latvala, who’s honestly angry on himself for not being able to challenge for the win in the totally crazy fight between Loeb and Hirvonen – going so fast that both the combattants seemsto be honestly surprised they stayed on the road. And look at Hirvonen, who’s wonderful passion seems to be close to madness. In the press-conference, asked about how to beat Sebastien, he said:
- I go to the next rally and try again. My son is three and a half years old, he plays with his small cars and says: “Here’s Sebastien, it’s very difficult to beat Sebastien…”. He’s going to think it’s impossible if I don’t try.
That’s dedication.
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Tags: jari-matti latvala, mikko hirvonen, passion, post event, press conference, rally norway, sebastien loeb, victory, win
That quote is the best.
I interviewed Mikko at his home a month before Neste Rally 2007 and saw his son’s small, but well-played model of Delecour’s (?) early 1990s Ford Escort with a wheel off and bents. Mikko said then – his son being a two-year old at the time – that his son insist on watching crash compilation dvds rather than the usual Bob the Builder -kids’ stuff. So – who’ll be the most talked newcomer to WRC in circa 2027?