Marcus Grönholm takes historic seventh win in Rally of Finland

Rally ace wants to concentrate on season's remaining races, not career speculations

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Finnish rally ace Marcus Grönholm made motor sports history on Sunday by securing his seventh win in the Rally of Finland, raced in the surroundings of the city of Jyväskylä. Grönholm left open the possibility of an eighth assault on the event next year.
      For the fourth time in a row, Grönholm’s race had a wet ending as he was drenched in champagne upon entering Jyväskylä as the race winner. Besides Grönholm’s seventh win, an additional cause for celebration was the 1-2 finish for both Finland and Ford, as team-mate Mikko Hirvonen took second place.
      The only statistical blemish for Grönholm and his co-pilot Timo Rautiainen is from 2003, when they had to pull out of the race with a broken bearing.
      "Otherwise we’d have a pretty good straight flush", Grönholm commented cheerfully.
     
In Rautiainen’s opinion the first victory was the tastiest of them all, but the last one comes a close second.
      Hirvonen’s brave fight for victory worked to Grönholm’s advantage in his battle for this year’s World Rally Championship title, for his closest rival in the overall points, the Frenchman Sebastien Loeb, was left in third.
      "Had Mikko merely settled for securing second place, Loeb would surely have beaten him to it", commented Rautiainen.
     
The big question now being asked is whether Grönholm will retire from the rally circuit at the end of the season.
      "I’d really rather not think about it now. After all, we still have seven races left this season”, said Grönholm, starting to exhibit signs of irritation at such enquiries.
      "Of course everybody wants to know what I plan to do in the future, but I believe that what is more important is that I win the Championship this year."
      According to Grönholm, the possible World Championship (it would be his third) will not affect his decision whether to continue in the sport. He said has negotiated with his employer about his future, and when the decision should be made.
      "There is no hurry", Grönholm noted, and the Ford team boss Malcolm Wilson agreed with him.
      According to Wilson, it would be a great loss to the sport should Grönholm decide to quit. However, Ford would stand behind Grönholm’s decision, whatever it might be, he added.
      "Maybe this latest win will give Marcus the confidence to keep on going."
     
Wilson was of the opinion that the 1-2 finish for Ford was the best ever showing by the team.
      "This is the fastest race on the calendar, and it requires the most skills from the drivers. This is a day to remember."
      Grönholm finished the race without a single mistake, clocking the fastest times on 17 of the 23 special stages.
      The only driver who managed to pose even a theoretical threat was Hirvonen. Curent World Champion Loeb, in turn, was surprisingly tame.
      "I could not completely trust in my car", Loeb explained.
     
In the World Championship standings Grönholm now has a 13-point lead over Loeb. Of the remaining seven races four will be competed on asphalt, however, slightly favouring the Frenchman. The first of these is the German Rally in two week’s time. Customarily Loeb has dominated the German event.
      In the manufacturer’s table Ford now leads Citroën by 40 points. According to Ford, it is particularly encouraging that the team has not encountered any problems with the new car. Wilson confirms that the team can't wait for the upcoming asphalt races.
      "We must accept the possibility of Citroën securing a double victory in Germany or Corsica. But our drivers believe the car can be even better on asphalt."


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Grönholm takes second win in Acropolis Rally (4.6.2007)

Links:
  Neste Oil Rally Finland
  WRC

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