ABU DHABI // As title races go, the world rally battle between Mikko Hirvonen and Sebastien Loeb is as tight as it gets.
With two rounds to go, only five points separate the championship leader Hirvonen, of BP Ford Abu Dhabi, and five-time world champion Loeb, of Citroen.
The fast-flowing tarmac tests of this weekend's Rally Spain will not make it easier in deciding the destiny of the world crown.
Loeb, a renowned asphalt specialist, is the overwhelming favourite. If Hirvonen is to break Loeb's half-decade stranglehold on the title, the Finn will need to tear up the formbook.
The Frenchman has won this event four years running. Alongside Dani Sordo, Loeb's teammate, Citroen are aiming for a fourth consecutive one-off finish in Catalonia. It is a level of domination Hirvonen is best qualified to break.
He has won the last four rounds and claimed his first WRC podium in Spain four years ago when he finished third. He requires just two second-place finishes from here to claim a maiden drivers' title.
Loeb must win. In Spain, Hirvonen expects him to. "Everyone knows how strong Loeb is on asphalt, so I think there's enough of a fight for me to try to get second. Eight points would help greatly ahead of the last round but it won't be easy to achieve," said Hirvonen.
However, he is approaching Spain in the same way he would any other rally. "I'm not under pressure. It's just really exciting. I have a chance to win the title but I'm keeping my feet firmly on the ground.
"I have no expectations at all and that way I've taken the pressure away, I've put it to one side. I've had a good feeling for the last five events and I've proved things to myself that I needed to."
In clawing back what seemed to be an insurmountable 20-point deficit five rounds ago, Hirvonen's recovery is unprecedented.
But it has also coincided with a rare Loeb slump. A dominant Rally Australia victory - cruelly taken away for a technical infringement - showed Loeb is back. Vitally, at just the right time too. Still, he needs two wins to have any chance of a sixth consecutive crown.
"I've really little alternative than to end the season with a perfect scorecard," said Loeb. "Here, more than anywhere else, we will be counting on Dani's rearguard action, because Mikko only needs to come second twice to clinch the title. I will do all I can to fulfil my side of the contract. After that, we shall see."
Ten years after his debut in Spain, being back in the comfort zone of the Tarragona region is clearly to Loeb's liking. "I enjoy these stages very much, as well as the on-the-limit driving they call for."
The smooth roads around the Salou rally base will turn abrasive and slippery as the cars drag stones and dirt onto the surface. Grip becomes unpredictable and it is a complicated scenario for drivers. With each of the three day's stages being run twice, morning road conditions will worsen dramatically for the afternoon repeats.
Hirvonen, who will be the first car out in tomorrow's opening leg, has conducted an extensive 350-km test ahead of this week and believes he is well prepared.
"It's good to do lots of kilometres and get the feeling back. I always enjoy driving on tarmac.
"For sure there's a lot to learn but hopefully I picked up something extra that will add to the experience from previous years," said Hirvonen.
emegson@thenational.ae
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
Results
2pm Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 1,800m
Winner AF Al Baher, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).
2.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh75,000 1,400m
Winner Alla Mahlak, Fabrice Veron, Rashed Bouresly.
3pm Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner Davy Lamp, Adrie de Vries, Rashed Bouresly.
3.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 1,400m
Winner Ode To Autumn, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
4pm Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 1,950m
Winner Arch Gold, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
4.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh75,000 1,800m
Winner Meqdam, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
5pm Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,800m
Winner Native Appeal, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson.
5.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh75,000 1,400m
Winner Amani Pico, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
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Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
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Oppenheimer
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Company%C2%A0profile
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Dubai Rugby Sevens, December 5 -7
World Sevens Series Pools
A – Fiji, France, Argentina, Japan
B – United States, Australia, Scotland, Ireland
C – New Zealand, Samoa, Canada, Wales
D – South Africa, England, Spain, Kenya
UAE SQUAD
Omar Abdulrahman (Al Hilal), Ali Khaseif, Ali Mabkhout, Salem Rashed, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Khalfan Mubarak, Zayed Al Ameri, Mohammed Al Attas (Al Jazira), Khalid Essa, Ahmed Barman, Ryan Yaslam, Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain), Habib Fardan, Tariq Ahmed, Mohammed Al Akbari (Al Nasr), Ali Saleh, Ali Salmin (Al Wasl), Adel Al Hosani, Ali Hassan Saleh, Majed Suroor (Sharjah), Ahmed Khalil, Walid Abbas, Majed Hassan, Ismail Al Hammadi (Shabab Al Ahli), Hassan Al Muharrami, Fahad Al Dhahani (Bani Yas), Mohammed Al Shaker (Ajman)
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
