Hirvonen Leads After Day One of British Rally

Topics:  Mikko Hirvonen, Wales Rally of Great Britain

VOA Sports
November 30, 2007

Finnish driver Mikko Hirvonen has the lead over compatriot and former champion Marcus Grönholm after the first day of the Rally of Great Britain, the last event on the World Rally Championship calendar.

Hirvonen won five of the six stages Friday in his Ford Focus as fog and slippery conditions struck the forests of southern Wales.

Grönholm, who is competing in his final rally before retirement, is 39.6 seconds behind his compatriot, is also in a Ford. Three-time world champion Sebastien Loeb of France is third in a Citroën, nearly one minute off the lead.

Loeb leads Grönholm by six points in the overall drivers' standings. The Frenchman only needs to finish in the top five to win his fourth straight World Rally Championship.

Some information for this report provided by Reuters.