Repsol YPF

The Finnish driver Mikko Hirvonen has managed to get back onto the top of the WRC Drivers´ classification after winning the Rally Turkey. His teammate Jari Matti Latvala also got a good result finishing second. In summary a perfect rally for Ford. Loeb was also on the podium and Dani Sordo continues to improve, as he was fourth.

The first half of the WRC championship will come to an end with the Rally Turkey as the summer break is looming. This is a race that returns to the calendar and will undoubtedly see another exciting and passionate battle between the world title contenders. Just one point separates the first two in the driver classification, Mikko Hirvonen and Sébastien Loeb, the latter moving into the top spot after the recent Rally Greece.

The final day of the Rally Acropolis just served underline the French driver's superiority during the whole race. Petter Solberg was second and Hirvonen third on the podium either side of the Frenchman. The young Aava was fourth and the Spaniard Dani Sordo benefitted from the problems that dogged Wilson and Henning Solberg on the final day's racing.

The WRC arrives in Greece to celebrate one of the most classic races in the calendar: the Rally Acropolis. The seventh test in this year’s championship is one of the toughest of the whole year due to the very demanding combination of some specials and the extreme conditions. The novelty this year lies in a small change in the route which now returns to the tradition of finishing at the base of the Acropolis in Athens.

The final day of the Rally Italy brought no surprises in the classification. Finally, Loeb kept the first position to the very end ahead of the Fords driven by Hirvonen and Latvala who were second and third, respectively. Galli finished fourth ahead of Dani Sordo, who was fifth.

South America will take over the responsibility for hosting the longest rally adventure around from Africa next year, the “new” Dakar. Threats from islamic terrorist groups forced the hand of the organisers of the race in Africa and the race has been transferred to Argentina and Chile. Paris was the venue for the presentation of the new race which will be held between 3rd – 18th January 2009.