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Fiesta's test schedule back on track

Ford's pre-season testing is back on schedule following Jari-Matti Latvala's crash last weekend

The M-Sport team remained in Sweden and rebuilt the car in workshops local to the Ostersund test.

Mikko Hirvonen drove the repaired car on Monday afternoon before returning to full-speed testing the next day.

Hirvonen completes his three days in the Fiesta RS WRC this afternoon before handing it over to Latvala tomorrow. This will conclude the team's testing prior to the Rally Sweden shakedown on the eve of the Karlstad-based season opener.

In terms of days in the car, Latvala's shunt will not cost the team much running time, although it did cost the opportunity to run the car on this week's Arctic Rally. Part of the build-up to the Arctic was going to be Latvala and Hirvonen driving the Fiesta from Ostersund to Rovaniemi in Finland to simulate long liaison section mileage.

Ford's Mark Wilford said: "Mikko's testing has gone well. We're pleased with the work we've got done. Obviously, the accident wasn't ideal, but the team has really worked well to get the car running again so quickly.

"The car needed some panels, but the engine and cage were undamaged meaning we could be back on track very quickly. We've got through a lot of work with this new car, in some very good conditions."

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