Last updated 12:30, Friday, 23 May 2008

BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team finished second and third in an enthralling Rally d'Italia Sardegna last weekend.

FLYING HIGH: Mikko Hirvonen takes to the air as he heads for second on Sardinia

The double podium keeps the team in the lead in both the manufacturers' and drivers' standings in the FIA World Rally Championship.

Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen claimed second in a Ford Focus RS World Rally Car with Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila third in a similar car.

Ford preserves its seven- point advantage in the manufacturers' series while Hirvonen is three points ahead in the drivers' table.

This sixth round of the 15-rally series was the first European gravel fixture of the season. Based in the north-east of Sardinia, the three-day event was characterised by tough narrow tracks south of Olbia.

Competitors tackled 17 speed tests covering 344.73km, and despite heavy rain before the start, the rally itself was dry, although cloudy skies ensured temperatures were cooler than expected.

Hirvonen and Latvala began Sunday's final leg in equal second place, tied to the tenth of a second.

Both endured a disappointing opening day when Hirvonen struggled for speed after being first in the start order on roads covered by slippery loose gravel, and Latvala dropped more than 90 seconds with a puncture.

However, the Finns fought back on Saturday to take first and second on every stage to reel in leader Sébastien Loeb and started the final day just 29.4 seconds behind.

Both drivers ate into the Frenchman's lead during the opening three special stages, Hirvonen leading the charge. But when they realised the time gap was too big, they eased their pace, content to settle for podium positions.

Twenty-seven-year-old Hirvonen won two tests on the final day and eventually finished just 10.6 seconds behind Loeb and 4.7 seconds ahead of his 23-year-old team-mate.

Hirvonen said: “The first stage on Sunday was great but I went off the road briefly on the next about 1km after the start.

“I hit a rock and didn't know what damage I had done so I knew I had to ease off slightly. I thought I had a puncture but Pirelli's tyres are strong and the rubber stayed inflated. At one point I was worried I wouldn't make the finish.

“In the afternoon I started to go flat out to try to take time from Loeb but I realised it wasn't going to happen so I decided not to take any more risks and dropped my pace.”

Latvala won 10 of the 17 tests and was delighted with a podium after sliding to 14th following an error on Friday when his car hit a bank and punctured.

He said: "It was a shame as after that I did so well. On Friday I would have been happy to finish in the top five, so third is fantastic and gives me a big confidence boost. If I hadn't made the mistake, who knows what the outcome might have been."

Abu Dhabi's Khalid Al Qassimi and co-driver Michael Orr were 16th in another Focus RS, finishing under SupeRally rules after crashing on Saturday.

Team director Malcolm Wilson was delighted with the weekend. He said: "We decided that it wasn't realistic to catch Loeb and our drivers were happy to settle for their positions.

“Saturday was very special, and I'm not sure anyone has taken that kind of time out of Loeb in a single day when he was fighting for victory and that bodes well for the future.”

For Loeb is was a record 40th world rally win with his fourth success of the season.

The championship remains in the Mediterranean for round seven, the all-gravel Acropolis Rally of Greece May 29-June 1.

Rally d’Italia Sardegna result: 1, S Loeb/D Elena, Citroen C4, three hours 57 minutes 17.2 seconds; 2, M Hirvonen/J Lehtinen, Ford Focus RS, 3.57.27.8; 3, J-M Latvala/M Anttila, Ford Focus RS, 3.57.32.5; 4, G Galli/G Bernacchini, Ford Focus RS, 3.58.59.7; 5, D Sordo/M Marti, Citroen C4,. 3.59.22.8; 6, C Atkinson/S Prévot, Subaru Impreza, 4.02.25.8; 7, H Solberg/C Menkerud, Ford Focus RS, 4.03.18.2; 8, U Aava/K Sikk, Citroen C4, 4.03.38.5; 9, P-G Andersson/J Andersson, Suzuki SX4, 4.05.05.9; 10, P Solberg/P Mills, Subaru Impreza, 4.06.58.2.

World championship - Drivers: 1, Hirvonen 43 points; 2, Loeb 40; 3, Atkinson 31; 4, J-M Latvala, 24; 5, D Sordo 21; 6, Galli 17.

Manufacturers: 1, BP Ford Abu Dhabi 71 points; 2, Citroen Total 64; 3, Subaru 42; 4, Stobart VK M-Sport 34; 5, Munchi's Ford 16; 6, Suzuki 7.