Photo: Les Kolczak/BP Ford WRT

FIA News Bulletin:

Rally Norway Leg 1

Finland’s Mikko Hirvonen has been the dominant force in the opening leg of Rally Norway, the third round of the FIA World Rally Championship. The Ford driver led from the outset and takes a 15.5 second advantage over team-mate Marcus Grönholm into the second day of competition. Reigning World Champion Sébastien Loeb (Citroën) holds third overnight.

Over 10,000 spectators attended the opening ceremony in Hamar.

Hamar, host town to the first-ever World Rally Championship event in Norway, came alive last night when thousands of Norwegians welcomed the international crews to their country. It is the biggest sporting event since the 1994 Winter Olympics and the snow-filled stages north-east of Oslo have provided spectacular action.

Confidence brimming, Mikko Hirvonen set a blistering pace in the opening stage to take immediate control. Throughout the leg he has diced with Grönholm and Loeb and, while he has only set two fastest stage times, he pulled out enough of an advantage and was always at the leading pace. Team-mate Marcus Grönholm, winner of last weekend’s Swedish Rally, failed to set a fastest time but the Finn has been in the thick of the fight and is still within striking distance, as is Loeb. The French Citroën driver is just 1.8 seconds adrift of Grönholm but a couple of mistakes lost him time, including sliding into a snow bank and overshooting a junction. However, he eventually got into the rhythm and set no fewer than five fastest times during today’s eight stages.

Local hero Petter Solberg (Subaru) has been dicing with Toni Gardemeister (Mitsubishi Lancer) and Gigi Galli (Citroën Xsara) throughout the day and eventually came out on top to claim fourth overnight, despite bending the steering. Brother Henning Solberg has had a relatively trouble-free day and holds seventh after losing time with a spin earlier in the day.

Follow the results from Rally Norway 2007 here.