WRC
Rally Norway: BP-Ford preview
Ford's snow experts aim to freeze out rivals in Norway Ford heads to Rally Norway (12 - 15 February) bidding to emulate its performance during the country's only previous world championship appearance two years ago when Focus RS World Rally Cars ...
Published: Jun 19, 2009, 7:37 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Ford's snow experts aim to freeze out rivals in Norway
Ford heads to Rally Norway (12 - 15 February) bidding to emulate its performance during the country's only previous world championship appearance two years ago when Focus RS World Rally Cars claimed a clean sweep of the podium.
BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team drivers Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen and fellow Finns Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila are no strangers to success in snow. Hirvonen won in Norway's winter wonderland in 2007 and Latvala, who finished fifth then, became the youngest driver to win a round of the FIA World Rally Championship in Sweden last season.
Conditions are reported to be perfect for a true winter rally in the Kongsvinger and Lillehammer areas where the event's speed tests are based. The loose-surface tracks that host this second round of the 12-event series are covered with a thick layer of snow and ice and huge snow banks line the roads. With temperatures forecast to dip to -8C during the next week, there is no reason for that to change.
Despite the harsh environment of the frozen Norwegian countryside, BP Ford Abu Dhabi's drivers will find incredible grip in the snow and ice due to the effect of the tungsten-tipped studs protruding from Pirelli's tyres fitted to their Focus RS WRCs. The studs bite through the snow into the icy surface beneath to offer grip almost equivalent to driving on gravel, and drivers 'lean' their cars into the snow banks to guide them round corners at maximum speed.
However, the skinny tyres usually seen on the ice-bound roads have been replaced for 2009 by traditional width rubber (see Team News). Both Hirvonen and Latvala tested the new tyre for the first time in December, and 28-year-old Hirvonen was delighted with the Focus RS WRC's performance.
"The tyre felt extremely stable and the Focus seemed better under braking than on the narrower tyre we used previously," he said. "In normal winter conditions I believe we could be faster so I have no concerns about its introduction. Start order could play an important part because I think this new tyre will work best on cleaner roads, so drivers lower down the order could benefit. I let the tyres do more work on snow than on gravel and slide the car around a little more. It's not necessary to be quite as neat as on other surfaces and it's exciting to be in control of a car sliding sideways at top speed.
"I scored solid points on the first round in Ireland earlier this month and now I really want to get down to business on a rally and in conditions that I enjoy. In 2007 the stages were enjoyable, but at the same time they were extremely difficult. I recall one stage that I drove in a blizzard and that was the first occasion in which I had encountered conditions like that. Ireland was a difficult start to the year because of heavy rain and I'm sure I'll feel more comfortable in Norway's snow -- conditions in which we know the Focus excels," added Hirvonen.
Twenty-three-year-old Latvala admits he enjoys driving on snow. "A proper winter rally is great fun," he said. "The nature of the surface means a driver can be a lot more aggressive. The car spends more time sideways on snow because it helps to turn into bends. Taking straight lines and relying on traction, as I do on gravel, doesn't work in snow because there isn't as much. So I must trust the tyres, which offer good grip, and use the snow banks to carry more speed and guide me round."
Latvala is distinctive at the wheel of his car on snow rallies by the trademark yellow glasses he wears during special stages. "When the countryside is totally white, it's often difficult to see exactly where the road goes. The yellow tinted glasses I wear provide more definition and help me to see the edge of the road more clearly. They really help me a lot," he explained.
Team News
* Tyre partner Pirelli will provide a new version of its Sottozero winter tyre, which will be available with 7mm studs to penetrate the snow and bite into the ice beneath. The tyre has been designed in a wider format than is usual for a winter pattern to enable teams to use it with the standard 15-inch wheel rims used on all other loose surface rounds of the championship. The tread blocks are spread slightly wider as a result. Teams are not allowed to hand-carve additional cuts into the rubber in the event of heavy snow and each car can carry two spares.
* Six other Focus RS WRCs will start. Henning Solberg / Cato Menkerud and Urmo Aava / Kuldar Sikk are nominated by the Stobart VK M-Sport squad, which has also entered Matthew Wilson / Scott Martin. Dutch father and son team Peter Van Merksteijn / Erwin Mombaerts and Peter Van Merksteijn Jnr / Eddy Chevaillier have entered 2007 and 2006-specification cars respectively while Finns Jouni Arolainen / Tapio Suominen will be in a 2005 Focus RS WRC.
* For all 12 rallies this season the Focus RS WRCs of Hirvonen and Latvala is carrying extra in-car protection to help absorb energy in the event of an accident. The door panels have been filled with crash impact protection foam to soak up the energy from a side impact. Additional foam has been placed between the door and the seats to give further protection to the driver and co-driver.
-credit: ford
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Munchi's 2009 season preview
Next article Rally Norway: Pre-event press conference
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jari-Matti Latvala
Jari-Matti Latvala guides Toyota to Olympus Rally victory, Lia Block third
Other rally
Other rally
Jari-Matti Latvala guides Toyota to Olympus Rally victory, Lia Block third
More events like Monza Rally Show would be “nice” for WRC - Latvala
WRC
WRC
More events like Monza Rally Show would be “nice” for WRC - Latvala
Latvala to make WRC comeback at Rally Finland
WRC
WRC
Rally Finland
Latvala to make WRC comeback at Rally Finland
More from
M-Sport
M-Sport’s 2027 WRC Fiesta Kit car breaks cover
WRC
WRC
M-Sport’s 2027 WRC Fiesta Kit car breaks cover
Ford to make factory WRC return in 2028
WRC
WRC
Rally Italy
Ford to make factory WRC return in 2028
Latest news
Christian Horner calls for F1 budget cap rethink: "Teams are spending $500 or $600m"
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
1 h
Christian Horner calls for F1 budget cap rethink: "Teams are spending $500 or $600m"
Phillip Island to remain in use despite MotoGP and WorldSBK departures
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
2 h
Phillip Island to remain in use despite MotoGP and WorldSBK departures
Did Max Verstappen already know the impact of Red Bull’s big upgrade when he signed his new deal?
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
3 h
Did Max Verstappen already know the impact of Red Bull’s big upgrade when he signed his new deal?
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe