Yes, I know you might have been expecting an accomplished rally driver having a go at the Gymkhana mode of Codemasters latest title, DiRT 3, but we’ve got something even better to show you; Mikko Hirvonen doing what he does best…only, it’s not what he does best. Despite racking up over 180 Rally Stage wins in his WRC career, Gymkhana is a very different kind of driving and this showcase was actually Hirvonen’s first time.
He had flown in that morning from Finland especially for the DiRT 3 event and after arriving at Battersea announced that he had never done anything like this before, was given a quick briefing on the course with no practice time before a blogger jumped in the passenger seat ready for their ride along. Proving why Mikko is one of the World’s best, he nailed the course first time – inch perfect.
90 minutes of Gymkhana and 12 ride alongs later, Mikko departed Battersea for the Jordan Stage of the World Rally Championship, leaving behind a crowd of thrilled spectators, a whole lot of burnt rubber but grabbing himself a few copies of the game to keep himself entertained en route to the various rally stages.
DiRT 3 preview event took place at London’s Battersea Power Station, a location featured in the actual game as the DC Compound, and the two Ford drivers at the heart of the action were Gymkhana superstar Ken Block with his Gymkhana Ford Focus plus the Ford Fiesta RS WRC car, driven by Mikko Hirvonen.
