Depois de 13 anos ao mais alto nível, Mikko Hirvonen vai despedir-se dos ralis ao nível do WRC, disputando a sua última prova no Rali de Gales.
Com 162 ralis disputados, 15 vitórias e 68 pódios, o quatro vezes vice-campeão do mundo, passou pelas melhores equipas do WRC desde que se estreou em 2002.
“Tenho excelentes memórias dos 13 anos que passei no WRC, alcançado os sonhos de infância. Saio do WRC com um grande sorriso no rosto. O meu fim no WRC não é o fim no desporto automóvel pois estou interessado em ter outros desafios”, disse o piloto.
MIKKO’S STATISTICS IN THE WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP
Starts: 162
Wins: 15
Runner-up: 28
Podium finishes: 68
Number of stage wins: 259
Points scored: 1,192
Longest run of consecutive wins: 4 in 2009
(Acropolis Rally – Rally Poland – Rally Finland – Rally Australia)
Longest run of consecutive podium finishes: 8 (2009 Rally Sardegna to 2010 Rally Sweden)
Longest run of consecutive points finishes: 22 (2007 Rally Japan to 2009 Rally de Portugal)
Most wins at a single rally: Rally Australia (2006 – 2009 – 2011)
HIGHLIGHTS
1998
First Rally – Laihia Rally (Finland) – Opel Kadett
2002
First WRC rally in a privately-run Renault Clio Super 1600
Finnish Rally Champion (Group A)
2003
First full works season – Ford
First points scored in the WRC with 6th position at the Cyprus Rally
2004
Subaru works driver
2005
First podium finish – Rally Catalunya – privately-run Focus WRC 03
2006
Rejoined Ford as works driver.
First win: Rally Australia
7 podium finishes
3rd in the Drivers’ World Championship
Manufacturers’ Title for Ford
2007
3 wins (Rally Norway – Rally Japan – Wales Rally GB)
Finished in the points on 15 out of the season’s 16 rallies
3rd in the Drivers’ World Championship
Manufacturers’ Title for Ford
2008
3 wins
11 podium finishes (out of 15 rounds)
Runner-up in the World Rally Championship for the first time
2009
11 podium finishes (out of 12 rounds)
4 consecutive wins
Runner-up in the World Rally Championship for the second time
2010
2 wins
8 podium finishes (out of 13 rounds)
Runner-up in the World Rally Championship for the third time
2012
Joined the Citroën Racing works team
10 podium finishes (out of 13 rounds)
Runner-up in the World Rally Championship for the fourth time
2013
5 podium finishes (out of 13 rounds)
2014
2 podium finishes (out of 13 rounds)
THE SEASONS IN DETAIL
| Season | Team | Starts | Wins | Podiums | Retirements | Disqualified | Points | Final pos. |
| 2002 | Private | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | – |
| 2003 | Ford | 14 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 16th |
| 2004 | Subaru | 16 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 29 | 7th |
| 2005 | Private, Ford, Skoda | 6 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 10th |
| 2006 | Ford | 16 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 65 | 3rd |
| 2007 | Ford | 16 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 99 | 3rd |
| 2008 | Ford | 15 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 103 | 2nd |
| 2009 | Ford | 12 | 4 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 92 | 2nd |
| 2010 | Ford | 13 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 126 | 6th |
| 2011 | Ford | 13 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 214 | 2nd |
| 2012 | Citroën | 13 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 213 | 2nd |
| 2013 | Citroën | 13 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 126 | 4th |
| 2014 | Ford | 12 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 108 | In progress |
| Total | 162 | 15 | 68 | 24 | 2 | 1192 |
