On previous form, the smart money will probably be on Volkswagen’s Sebastien Ogier to stand on the top step of the podium on this year’s Vodafone Rally de Portugal, for the fourth time in five years.
Indeed, the Frenchman has won almost 25% of the rallies he has started; 18 wins from 74 WRC starts. He also has no less than 247 stage wins to his name in that time and an impressive finishing record, of more than 86%.
However, it is Ford returnee Mikko Hirvonen who tops the tables in absolute terms. The Finn has 153 WRC starts to his name, with 251 stage wins, 15 rally wins and an impressive 66 podiums in his 14-year career. He also holds the highest number of second and third places, as well as the highest points tally, of just over 1100 points.
However, the honour of most number of stage wins goes to fellow Finn and former Ford team-mate, Jari-Matti Latvala. While Latvala has ‘only’ 133 rally starts to his name, he has won 305 stages during his 12-year WRC career.
Another accolade held by Hirvonen, this time shared with Norway’s Henning Solberg, is the highest number of retirements; 25 each. Solberg is also the longest-running driver in this year’s event, having competed in the WRC for the first time on Rally Sweden in 1998.
The youngest WRC driver in this year’s event will be VW’s Andreas Mikkelsen, already a champion, having won the Intercontinental Rally Challenge in 2011, its final year before it became the FIA European Rally Championship. This year, Mikkelsen will be 24 as he starts the event.
The oldest driver will be Abu Dhabi’s Khalid Al-Qassimi, who turned 41 just before Christmas in 2013 while the least experienced WRC driver will be Robert Kubica, who’s WRC2 campaign began in Portugal last year and who now has just 4 WRC starts to his name in a world rally car.
So, 15 Priority 1 drivers, with 1017 rally starts between them, 196 podiums and 200 DNFs. One thing is certain; the action on this year’s Vodafone Rally de Portugal is likely to be some of the best we have seen in recent history.
On previous form, the smart money will probably be on Volkswagen’s Sebastien Ogier to stand on the top step of the podium on this year’s Vodafone Rally de Portugal, for the fourth time in five years.
Indeed, the Frenchman has won almost 25% of the rallies he has started; 18 wins from 74 WRC starts. He also has no less than 247 stage wins to his name in that time and an impressive finishing record, of more than 86%.
However, it is Ford returnee Mikko Hirvonen who tops the tables in absolute terms. The Finn has 153 WRC starts to his name, with 251 stage wins, 15 rally wins and an impressive 66 podiums in his 14-year career. He also holds the highest number of second and third places, as well as the highest points tally, of just over 1100 points.
However, the honour of most number of stage wins goes to fellow Finn and former Ford team-mate, Jari-Matti Latvala. While Latvala has ‘only’ 133 rally starts to his name, he has won 305 stages during his 12-year WRC career.
Another accolade held by Hirvonen, this time shared with Norway’s Henning Solberg, is the highest number of retirements; 25 each. Solberg is also the longest-running driver in this year’s event, having competed in the WRC for the first time on Rally Sweden in 1998.
The youngest WRC driver in this year’s event will be VW’s Andreas Mikkelsen, already a champion, having won the Intercontinental Rally Challenge in 2011, its final year before it became the FIA European Rally Championship. This year, Mikkelsen will be 24 as he starts the event.
The oldest driver will be Abu Dhabi’s Khalid Al-Qassimi, who turned 41 just before Christmas in 2013 while the least experienced WRC driver will be Robert Kubica, who’s WRC2 campaign began in Portugal last year and who now has just 4 WRC starts to his name in a world rally car.
So, 15 Priority 1 drivers, with 1017 rally starts between them, 196 podiums and 200 DNFs. One thing is certain; the action on this year’s Vodafone Rally de Portugal is likely to be some of the best we have seen in recent history.