Hirvonen benefits from Duval

Duval, who will drive in Spain and next week's Tour de Corse, was second fastest in the morning's shakedown stage, just four tenths down on Sebastien Loeb, who has dominated the Spanish round of the World Rally Championship for four years.

Hirvonen said: "We'll see the real results tomorrow, when the rally starts, but so far I'm really pleased. Francois [Duval] has come in and given us some fresh ideas with the car and the setup.

"Our driving styles are quite different, so I can't say I have taken exactly his settings for the car - but he's certainly helping," added the Finn. "We're here to try and win the event. It's going to be really difficult, it's Citroen, Sebastien [Loeb] and Dani [Sordo] that we're up against - it's never easy to beat them."

Hirvonen was in no doubt about his approach to the event, adding: "It would mean the world to me [to win the drivers' title]. I don't think I have much to lose - I can go for it and take more risks than normal. As long as I have a mathematical chance to beat him [Loeb], I'm going to keep on pushing."

Ford's director of European motorsport, Mark Deans, was delighted with the progress made by Duval.

"It's great to have our car being driven by an asphalt specialist," said Deans. "Don't get me wrong, Mikko and Jari-Matti are both absolutely fantastic, but a specialist driver always brings something new to the car - and that's what we're finding already on this event.

"We've got to push the envelope now. We want to get back past Citroen and Mikko wants to pass Sebastien - that's what we're trying to do here in Spain."