Flying Finn looks to regain his title for vital early march on world champion

Amman, Jordan: BP Ford Abu Dhabi’s Mikko Hirvonen has vowed to build on his early season form to end Sebastien Loeb’s world rallying domination, with the upcoming Jordan Rally set to become a key battleground.

After starting the season with a Hirvonen victory in the snow of Sweden, the championship moves on to Mexico for round two next week before the season’s most anticipated event from April 1-3 in Jordan.

The Jordan Rally is particularly significant too as it was there that Hirvonen took advantage of a bizarre Loeb crash in 2008 to launch a brave assault on his dominance, ending just short. And Loeb showed his caliber as a true champion again in 2009 by winning his sixth consecutive drivers title by a solitary point, leading many to believe that 2010 could be Hirvonen’s year.

“Yes, this is the year we can do it,” said the confident 29 year-old. “Losing out in 2009 by one point to Loeb was frustrating but it's made me even more determined for 2010. We’re working extra hard. The key is that we need more victories and not so many second places. On occasions I wasn't brave enough to make the decisions I needed to with my car set-up or to drive more aggressively.

“I’ve learned from that and this year there will be no second thoughts. The difference between myself and Loeb last year was a single point. That translates to tiny decisions on the stages but it's those small things that make the difference between winning and coming second, and when you're brave enough to take the chances, you can feel the difference.

“If all goes to plan, then, yes, this is the year that I catch him. It's going to be a close fight again with Loeb. He's six times world champion!”

Confident words and few will doubt his intentions after a victorious season opener, but Hirvonen knows that given Loeb’s disappointing Jordan adventure two years ago, the Frenchman will redouble his efforts to claim to win one of the few WRC events to have eluded him. It sets the scene for a titanic battle.

“I’ve only got good memories from Jordan,” said Hirvonen: “It was really nice to win it. The event was actually more difficult once it started than we had thought it was going to be on the recce in terms of our pace notes and our tyres. My memory is that it was a very well organized event, especially considering it was the first time in Jordan. It was nice to drive somewhere totally different. The stages are in good condition and they're fast enough for us!”

Hirvonen, Loeb and former Formula One World Champion Kimi Raikkonen will be the big crowd pleasers for Jordan, with a host of local and regional drivers set to rub shoulders with the world’s best.