Former WRC rally-winner Mikko Hirvonen has taken his first FIA Cross-Country Rally World Cup win in the 2016 Hungarian Baja.
Hirvonen, who drove for MINI All4 Racing alongside co-driver Michel Périn, showed impressive pace throughout the Hungarian Baja Special Stages to take their first Cross-Country Rally World Cup win.
Their American team-mates Bryce Menzies and Peter Mortensen finished behind the Finn/French pairing in second, making it a MINI All4 Racing one-two at the 2016 Hungarian Baja.
While the final MINI All4 Racing Dutch crew of Erik van Loon and Wouter Roosegar failed to finish the Hungarian Baja after retiring to car damage sustained in SS2.
Hirvonen said “Everything went perfectly – although I did not expect the Hungarian Baja to be so demanding, so difficult, especially when I saw the length of the stages, which I thought were to be more like sprints.
“But they were really technical in places and narrow, and with the rain and mud they proved to be difficult. But everything worked perfectly. I’m really happy to get my first victory with Michel and MINI ALL4 Racing.”
Menzies added “I think we did really well; the whole team and, of course, MINI All4 Racing. I’m looking forward to the next rally. As a development event, the Hungarian Baja proved to be an ideal venue.
“The differing terrain provided useful insight for the development teams of technical service supplier X-Raid – but especially in preparation for the fast-approaching Dakar Rally 2017.”
The next round of the 2016 FIA Cross-Country Rally World Cup will take place on the 25-28 August 2016 at Baja Poland.
