History Event 2000s

2009 Rally Norway (Norway)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 2009 Rally Norway (Norway)

Date: February 13–15, 2009

Start Location: Hamar, Norway

Finish Location: Hamar, Norway

Total Distance: ~1,081.49 km

Competitive Stages: 361.12 km

Surface: Snow and Ice (winter rally)

Rally Norway returned after a two-year absence, bringing with it spectacular snowbanks, frozen lakes, and blisteringly fast snow stages. Hirvonen delivered one of his finest drives, holding off a charging Loeb to claim his first win of the season and level the championship fight early in the year.

Route

Kongsvinger: Fast, flowing roads bordered by high snowbanks, ideal for aggressive cuts.
Mountain Stage: Climbs and descents through forests with varying grip due to sun and shade.
Lillehammer: A mix of open blasts and intricate junctions, requiring quick transitions between high and low speeds.

The rally showcased Norway’s unique blend of flat-out snow roads and tight technical sections. Key stages included:

Studded tires gave incredible grip, but the constantly changing snow density meant braking points had to be adjusted from corner to corner.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Mikko Hirvonen & Jarmo Lehtinen · Ford Focus RS WRC 08
2nd Place
Sébastien Loeb & Daniel Elena · Citroën C4 WRC
3rd Place
Jari-Matti Latvala & Miikka Anttila · Ford Focus RS WRC 08

Hirvonen and Loeb swapped stage wins throughout the weekend, with the Finn ultimately securing victory by managing risks better in the final icy stages.

Car Highlights

  • Ford Focus RS WRC 08: Strong stability on snow and excellent traction out of slow corners gave Hirvonen the edge.
  • Citroën C4 WRC: In Loeb’s hands, it was blisteringly quick on smoother, cleaner sections but slightly less confident in rutted snow.
  • Subaru Impreza WRC2008: Showed decent pace but still lagged behind the top two in outright speed.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Snowbank Usage: Drivers leaned on snowbanks to carry more corner speed, but clipping them too hard could suck the car in.
  • Variable Grip: Sunlit sections melted slightly, creating slippery patches between otherwise grippy ice.
  • Pace Note Precision: Blind crests and long high-speed corners made co-driver timing crucial.

Hirvonen’s disciplined snow driving and strategic approach to tire management earned him a much-needed win, setting up a fierce title battle with Loeb for the rest of the season.

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