Monte Carlo Rally: Mikko Hirvonen admits he's lacking confidence
Mikko Hirvonen is pinning his Monte Carlo Rally hopes on significant set-up changes after struggling for confidence through the first part of the event
The Finn is 2m29.7s behind his rally-leading Citroen team-mate Sebastien Loeb.
Having started leg two in fourth, Hirvonen slipped to fifth on Thursday morning's last stage when Evgeny Novikov passed him.
"I just can't find the confidence," said Hirvonen. "It's OK for some time and then we get some split times and I see I'm behind so I push harder and it gets worse.
"It's tough. I have had the car like Seb and Dani [Sordo] so far, but now have to change it.
"I didn't want to make the big change, but we must because otherwise the other guys behind are just going to catch up and pass us."
Citroen's technical director Xavier Mestelan-Pinon said the team would do all it could to revitalise Hirvonen.
"We have to find the solution for Mikko, it's our job," said Mestelan-Pinon.
"We have been working already during the rally for this, of course we have, but now we have made more changes in the suspension.
"It's not good for the driver not to have the confidence; the fastest way is to keep to the line and when they start to drive the car more sideways then more time - and more confidence - is lost."
Loeb keeps comfortable lead over Ogier in Monte Carlo Rally
Sebastien Loeb increases lead in Monte Carlo Rally
Why WRC's Safari tour is more than just a rally
OPINION: A source of national pride in Kenya, the Safari Rally is also a sporting, cultural and economic phenomenon. And as last weekend's World Rally Championship round reminded us, it's a key driver in establishing Africa’s place in world motorsport
How Rovanpera tamed a wild Safari Rally
The Safari Rally acted as a brutal test of driver and car resolve as multiple retirements opened the path for a historic Toyota 1-2-3-4 triumph, headed by star Kalle Rovanpera. But keeping things clean was only half of the challenge, as a well-timed charge when conditions worsened allowed the Finn to take control
How Tanak turned the tables to deliver Hyundai a timely WRC triumph
The 2019 champion has been a bit-part player recently, but Ott Tanak ended a 15-month drought in fine style with a dominant win in Sardinia. On a weekend when championship leader Kalle Rovanpera struggled with cleaning the road, his Hyundai rival has made his belated arrival into the title race and given cause for those predicting a walkover from the Toyota star to pause
How Rovanpera overcame rallying royalty in Portugal to extend his WRC lead
Although the Rally Portugal entry list featured World Rally Championship royalty in Sebastiens Loeb and Ogier, victory was secured by rallying's rising star in Kalle Rovanpera. Here's the story of his 2022 hat-trick, as his key rivals faltered among the gravel and asphalt ahead of them
The former WRC star playing the unsung hero role for Rovanpera
Kalle Rovanpera’s 2022 World Rally Championship displays have been spectacular, with the Toyota driver benefitting from a secret weapon in his crew to win two of the opening three rallies. But while the former challenger to Sebastien Loeb won’t take credit for his fellow Finn's performances, a key bond has been formed which could prove key to Rovanpera’s title charge
How Rovanpera's Croatia turnaround sent a message to his WRC rivals
After a dominating Rally Croatia, a wrong tyre choice on the final day looked to have undone all Kalle Rovanpera's hard work and left him with a mountain to climb heading into the power stage. That he emerged the winner all the same has surely quelled any lingering doubts that the Finn is the man to beat in the 2022 WRC
How M-Sport's faith in Loubet led to a WRC reprieve after a dismal 2021
It's fair to say 2021 was a year to forget for Pierre-Louis Loubet. A maiden full World Rally Championship season offered hope but soon turned into a nightmare that ended in hospital, after being hit by a car in a road traffic accident. Now handed a lifeline by M-Sport, the Frenchman is desperate to rebuild his career
Why WRC mechanics deserve more respect
The drivers get the glare of attention, but it’s the mechanics who are key to the operation of any World Rally Championship car. Autosport donned a set of overalls and joined M-Sport on a Belgian national rally event to get an inside look into the trials and tribulations of a rally mechanic