World Rally
Radio preview:
Spain

“I know I probably say this EVERY year but how come we are on the penultimate round of the championship already? Where has the time gone?

It feels like only a few weeks ago that we were starting the season in Sweden with Loeb and Hirvonen on equal points at zero.

Well, it may feel like the start of the year all over again for Loeb as he finds himself sharing the lead of the championship with Hirvonen after Solberg’s exclusion in France lead to Mikko claiming more valuable championship points. They both share an impressive total of 196 a piece. With just two rounds to go! Exciting? You could say that.

I arrived in Spain over the weekend to soak up some last minute sun before the UK finally calls a time on what we hilariously call ‘summer’. Even then there were rally fans filtering in to the rallies base in Salou. The town is itself winding down after a busy summer season but you can still buy the odd essential - just ask Mikko Hirvonen.

After leaving his sunglasses and flip flops at home he thought he would purchase some in the local stores. Admittedly his fashion choices are sometimes dodgy but here in Salou he has excelled himself by purchasing purple, glittery flip flops and sunglasses with gold guitars on them. Yes, Ladies and gentlemen, Elvis lives!

Needless to say pictures have been taken and we have all laughed at his expense.

Personally I think he picked these horrendously cheap glasses after his experience here last year. It was at the fabulous annual RallyTravel charity auction which is held in aid of the Richard Burns Foundation where Mikko was ‘relieved’ of his rather expensive, newly bought shades - by Colin who snatched them out of his top pocket and offered them to the crowd. His shades were duly sold to the highest bidder. The winner hadn’t even paid half what Mikko had paid for them! If you are heading to the rally then I recommend heading to the auction which is held on Thursday evening before the ceremonial start. I may just bid on Mikko’s new specs - they could become a cult classic!

Our show this weekend will be geared around the WRC championship fight and of course the battle for the SWRC title - it’s the final round and Tanak and Hanninen will be battling it out! Email the studio with your SWRC title predictions and of course the Podium Predictor for the WRC. radio@wrc.com

Our on air times are as follows - all in Spanish local time (GMT +2 hour):

Friday 21 October: 0815hrs
Saturday 22 October: 0915hrs
Sunday 23 October: 0645hrs