MOTOR SHOW

Two world champions, Marcus Gronholm and Petter Solberg, and one two-time world champion, Mikko Hirvonen – all three have gone down in the rally-driving history books, and all three will be taking part in the Findomestic Memorial Bettega, set to be held at the Bologna Motor Show on 7 and 8 December 2009. Between them, they have clocked up a total of 398 appearances in the World Rally Championships, emerging victorious on 54 occasions. And they're not done yet: having just turned 35, Solberg has no intention of handing over the baton, and is particularly fond of the Motor Show track; for his part, Hirvonen is raring to go, with even more conviction than he had in the past two seasons, when he fought tooth-and-nail right up to the finish.

Hirvonen, Ford's 29-year-old Finn, likes to think big, and is ready to take on the big guns. In typically unpretentious style, he states: "My objective is to win the World Rally Championships, so it's taken as read that next year I'll do everything in my power to scoop the title. As always, I'll be giving it 100%”. He has certainly been firing on all cylinders over the past year, helping to make all the more exciting a contest that began in January on the rain-soaked tarmac in Ireland and finished in October on an equally sodden track in Wales. He has proved himself to be the unrivalled master of the fantastic Ford Focus World Rally Car, which was designed by Belgian genius Christian Loriaux. Hirvonen is a real talent, and he will undoubtedly have the opportunity to distinguish himself in the "champions' challenge" that will set alight the Bologna Motor Show's MotorSport Areana during the two days dedicated to rally driving.

At present, Hirvonen is making his preparations for the duel in the Bolognese arena, where – in his festooned Ford Focus WRC – he will come face-to-face with many of those whom he has previously vanquished during the World Championships. Alongside Petter Solberg, his competitors will include 26-year-old Sébastien Ogier – the rising star of French rally driving, who in his first year at the wheel of the Citroën C4 WRC finished first in the Acropolis Rally and came eighth overall in the World Championship – and Mads Ostberg, the promising 22-year-old Norwegian who has achieved a number of very respectable placings in his Subaru Impreza WRC. Hirvonen will also be going head-to-head with fellow Finn Marcus Gronholm, who will appear at the Motor Show in his Subaru Impreza.

There's no denying that rally fans are in for a treat at the Motor Show. Upping the ante yet further will be two of the leading Italian names: Andrea Navarra, appearing, like Gronholm, in a Subaru Impreza; and the up-and-coming Simone Campedelli, who made a splash at last year's Memorial Bettega and has since gone on to blaze a trail in the FIA P-WRC World Championships (reserved for Group-N vehicles). Given that both of the Italians hail from the city of Cesena, the Motor Show will be something of a derby. 38-year old veteran Navarra relishes the challenges of the tarmac/dirt track, where he has often come out on top, and will be aiming to be crowned king of the Findomestic Memorial Bettega, while Campedelli – the young pretender – will do everything in his power to stop him from claiming the trophy.