Hirvonen: I can handle the pressure

Drivers' championship leader Mikko Hirvonen says he won't allow the pressure of competing in front of his home crowd to affect his performance on Rally Finland later this month.

Hirvonen started Rally Finland in a similar situation last year, when he led the series from Sebastien Loeb by a margin of three points. On that occasion he lost out to the pace of his rival who led the rally from start to finish. This year, however, Hirvonen says he feels better prepared mentally to deal with Loeb's challenge and is determined to keep his grip on the series until the end.

Talking exclusively to wrc.com Hirvonen denied his championship leading position put him under greater pressure to win in Finland but acknowledged it was a different story last year.

"I felt the pressure there last year and I think that's maybe what cost me the win," he explained. "This time I think I've been around long enough to work my way around it. Now I just try to think of Rally Finland as any other part of the championship. I'm not thinking it's my home rally and I have to win it. I have to think of the drivers' title as well. The most stupid thing I could do is make a mistake and come away with zero points. Okay, that could happen, but if so then for sure the championship fight is over. That would be a shame because it's only just started again and I want to keep it alive."

Hirvonen finished second on Rally Finland in 2007 and 2008, last year trailing Loeb by just nine seconds. "I've been very close on both occasions," said Hirvonen. "Two years ago it was a big fight with Marcus but he was definitely faster than me. Last year Sebastien managed to beat me but the speed was even faster than the previous year. If I can step up the speed just a little bit from last year then I'm sure we can be close."

Hirvonen said the findings of a pivotal test in May could yield the performance increase he needs for Finland. "We had a really good test before Sardinia and since then we have won all the rallies, so I'm confident something from that test will work in Finland as well. Maybe the car won't be faster, but it might give me more confidence. Last year I felt I was faster than Sebastien on the big main road but when we went to the narrower, twisty stuff I was too slow. That's the area I need to improve a lot on for this year."

You can read more from Hirvonen, including his thoughts on Jari-Matti Latvala's place in the team, the WRC new engine regulations and taking delivery of his 'dream car', in our in depth interview, available now in WRC Extra section.

Also, be sure to visit wrc.com tomorrow for details of a fantastic competition to win Mikko's signed driving gloves from Rally Poland.