Championship Determining Event
Petter Solberg has already decided not to participate on round# 10 of the Australian event his team instead has chosen to focus on more meticulous preparation and effort toward the following round#11 at Spain. The down under event will mark the return into 2009 calendar since its last participation of WRC in 2006 which Mikko Hirvonen was seen on the podium as the outright winner on its mostly gravel stages. It would be graciously interesting as one of the last three rounds of the remaining year for the most fiercely battle between him and the reigning champ Sebastian Loeb; the three events which consequently will be the determining points for the 2009 WRC winner.
The September month is coincided with typical outgoing mild winter of Australian climate; consequently heat related problems to the engine are somewhat minimal. Unlike past event there are completely new stages along the East Coast of New South Wales with high speed hard packed gravel stages located in the Kyogle, Murwillumbah and Mullumbimby areas. Instead of the red earth and ball-bearing like gravel roads of the old event, competitors will face a brand new unfamiliar challenges.
Seb or Mikko?
Loeb is widely known for his impeccable rally driving on asphalt stages which fortunately will be offered on the last two remaining events at Spain and Wales Great Britain, hence strategically Mikko need to put an all out effort on this gravel dominated event just to be on the same par level with the champ. Hypothetically for all his great achievements Loeb has more advantages than any other rally drivers.
Yet the new and very short stages in Australia may impose great advantages to Mikko’s side who has tendency to quickly adapt to the new environment challenges much better than any other drivers. Thus hypothetically on paper Mikko would still be one event short in comparison to Loeb’s winning prospects for the remaining two events, if all goes well!
Most importantly on Sebastian Loeb’s style Rally car, his Citroen C4 seems to be a tad more competitive, if not hard to beat; when it goes smoothly. Or perhaps to put it bluntly the package of his superb rally driving together with C4 has better chances to win, an undeniable arguments based on the past statistic. Though recently luck has had predominantly played greater roles; anything could happen within the span of these last remaining three events. Good exciting and thrilling moments will unroll for us as avid WRC fans. Good Luck to you all to watch your individual hero!
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