World Rally Championship leader Mikko Hirvonen is intent on strengthening his lead of the series in Australia next week, but has acknowledged that avoiding a no score is more important to him than taking a fourth consecutive rally victory.

A hat-trick of wins in Greece, Poland and an emotional home town success last time out in Finland for the BP Ford Abu Dhabi team leader have propelled him into a three-point lead over defending champion Sebastien Loeb ahead of next week's new-Australian event.

But with thirty points still up for grabs over the three WRC rounds which remain this season, the drivers' title fight is far from over - making a solid points haul his biggest priority.

"It's a crucial rally for the championship. I will try to win but if I can't, then I must score as many points as possible. Zero points and the title fight could be over for me this year," explained Hirvonen.

"I have a good record on new rallies, although I don't feel I do anything differently in either the recce or the rally itself. But I'll be happy if I can maintain that record," added Hirvonen, whose co-driver Jarmo Lehtinen will celebrate his 100th WRC start next week.

Hirvonen claimed his first WRC win in Australia in 2006 but the 29-year-old acknowledges that will count for nothing on new roads. "This is a brand new rally so I don't know what to expect," he said. "The roads in the west where I won in 2006 are different to those we will experience here. The tracks were covered in slippery marble-like stones but I understand these roads are more traditional gravel, which should suit me."

Drivers will only begin to develop an understanding of the characteristics of the gravel roads once the recce begins on Tuesday. However, the Ford team's tyre engineer George Black visited the area last year to examine the nature of the stages.

Hirvonen's team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala, starting his third Rally Australia, said the arduous schedule was also likely to be a key factor this time. Drivers must spend more than 14 hours behind the wheel during the first day, over 15 hours on the second and more than 11 hours on the usually short final day.

"They are long days and it will be important to adapt quickly to the time difference after the flight there and sleep a lot to be ready for this rally," he said. "Maintaining concentration will be harder than usual. In most rallies the stages are held in groups of three, but it's different here. The opening section on the first leg includes seven tests so it will be important to remain focused during the long liaison sections.

"Shorter stages usually mean the competition is close because it's more difficult to open big time gaps on short tests than it is on longer sections. The drivers' championship is looking set for an exciting finish and my job in Australia will be to score solid points to help Mikko maintain his challenge for the title," added 24-year-old Latvala.

Abu Dhabi's Khalid Al Qassimi, 37, will drive a third Focus RS WRC for the team. "I am very much looking forward to the Australian east coast rally experience. The stages will be new to everyone, so we are all in the same position to give it our best shot and get the most out of the challenge. I have great confidence in my car and the team, so I just need to prove that I can perform on the unknown stages," he said.

Source: wrc.com