M-Sport Ford test Mikko Hirvonen prior to Neste Oil Rally Finland 2008

 From Mikko's website:

Finland pre-rally tests were re-scheduled due heavy rain which Mikko Hirvonen faced on Fords' first of four test days. Rain was so hard that team decided to continue the test and developement work in drier conditions.

- The special stage went so muddy that never in WRC FInland any special stage doesn't ever go to so bad condition. However we managed to find good setups if the conditions during the rally goes wet, told Hirvonen.

- As the miserable weather seems to continue we made a decision that my team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala tests on Tuesday and Wednesday. I'll be testing on Thursday. We wish to face dry conditions on wednesday and thursday so that we could test and develope our car on dry surface, Hirvonen continued.

WRC Finland starts on final day of July. Teams face a seasons' first rally which they have to use soft compound tyre - for the first time of this season.

- For the muddy test the tyre could be even softer. On morning I was able to test in better conditions and the tyre work very well.

WRC Finland includes 24 special stages which are to be run in the vicinity of Jyväskylä, central Finland.

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