MIKKO HIRVONEN

“I was in Spain to pick up my football winning wager...”

A few people were surprised to me back in Spain last week. But I had to come, it was really important for me to see Scott [Martin] again… he owed me some money.

It’s important that Motorsport News readers understand what this money was owed for: it was because Liverpool beat Chelsea last month. I bet Scotty Liverpool would win and, of course, they did! Even better, Liverpool beat them at Chelsea.

Actually, taking Scott’s money is only part of the reason I’m here.

The other reason is to do gravel notes for Craig and Scott. They asked me if I would do it and, to be honest, I really fancied it. It was great to see a lot of old friends again and, more than that, it was fantastic to have the chance to help these boys. They are both very good mates of mine and anything I can do to help with the opportunity they have, I’m going to do it.

I might have changed my mind a little bit if they’d mentioned the 0400hrs call though. Bloody hell that was early!

I really enjoyed working on this side of the sport. It was quite tough for me, I struggled a little bit on Saturday morning when there were quite a few damp patches, but we’re getting there. It’s been great to be back in the sport, but away from the limelight and away from the kind of politics of the service park. When the talk started getting serious, it was time for us to get into the gravel note car and drive away up into the hills again. I loved that.

A lot of people were asking me if there’s any chance I would come back and do some rallies. Of course, I am already committed for Dakar next year and that’s going to be a tough race, but the WRC? I don’t think so.

Maybe it would be nice to do one rally, but I don’t think it’s worth all the stress and everybody asking if this is the start of a comeback. And anyway, after the time away I really think I would struggle with the rhythm in the recce – that’s where you really make your rally. I think the driving would still be close, but you need to be so accurate and on it in the recce and you get that from doing it all the time.

If I want to do a rally, I go and do one in my own rally car.

We are talking about me maybe doing some more next year and I’m interested for that. We’ll need to sit down and talk a little bit more after this one, but if I can help Craig and Scott with the recce and maybe bring a little bit of what I used to do, then I’d be very happy with that.

And if Scott keeps paying out on his bets, it makes sense financially for me to come too!