Preview Sweden Rally 2014
M Mikko Hirvonen began rallying in 1998, and in 2002 he was crowned Finnish Formula 2 champion. At the same time he just missed the championship title in the Italian Subaru Cup Challenge. In 2003, Mikko Hirvonen sat in a factory cockpit for Ford for the first time. He drove a Ford Focus WRC in the World Rally Championship. In 2004 he competed for Subaru in the rally, the following year he had to finance his rally activities as a privateer.
In 2006, Mikko Hirvonen returned to Ford as a works driver and won the world title together with Marcus Grönholm in the manufacturer rating. He celebrated his first World Championship victory at the Rally Australia. Another brand world title followed in 2007. Mikko Hirvonen has been Ford's number 1 driver since 2008. In 2008 and 2009 he fought close battles with Sébastien Loeb for the world title, both times Hirvonen was vice world champion.
