From Rally-Live Subaru Tecnica International (STI) announced today that Mikko Hirvonen will join the 555 Subaru World Rally Team in 2004. With 2003 FIA World Rally Champion Petter Solberg and co-driver Phil Mills already contracted to the team, the announcement finalises Subaru's 2004 driver line up. The 23-year-old Finn will continue his partnership with Finnish co-driver, Jarmo Lehtinen. Subaru's decision to sign the Finn was driven by a commitment to its long-term, young driver development philosophy. Having helped nurture the careers of World Rally Champions Colin McRae, Richard Burns and Petter Solberg, who all joined the team with limited experience of the World Rally Championship, the Japanese marque has established a strong reputation for developing new and promising talent. "We're very excited to have signed Mikko. He's a very talented young driver and we have the resources to provide him with the best car and team to help him develop his full potential" Team Principal David Lapworth commented. "We've been following the progress of many young drivers and we hope this is the first of a number of initiatives with which Subaru will be involved in 2004." Mikko Hirvonen commented : "This is such a fantastic opportunity for me and I'm delighted I'm going to be driving for the team next year. There's so much that I want to achieve as a driver in the WRC and I know Subaru's the team to help me do that. I just can't wait to get in the car and get going !" Born in 1980, Mikko Hirvonen has quickly established himself as a promising star of the future. Finishing in the points in 2003, his first year as a works WRC driver (he was sixth in Greece), Mikko has already tasted Subaru success having taking three wins in a Group N Impreza WRX in the 2002 Italian Gravel Trophy Series. In the same year he also contested two international rally events in an Impreza, winning both. Beginning his season at Rallye Monte Carlo in January, Hirvonen will start the 2004 Championship in the same specification Impreza as Petter Solberg (the Subaru Impreza WRC2003). The Impreza WRC2004 is expected to make its debut on the third round of the 2004 Championship, Rally Mexico. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- From RacingNet Subaru车队证实签下22岁的芬兰车手Mikko Hirvonen， 他将与Petter Solberg搭档一同在WRC 2004年赛季为Subaru车队效力。 Hirvone的经纪公司为Pro Racing，这家公司也是前世界冠军Tommi Makinen的经纪公司， 在这家公司的努力下，Hirvonen得以在今年参加整年度的WRC赛事， 他今年的最佳成绩为希腊Rally第六。 Hirvonen表示：「这是一个绝佳的机会，非常高兴能在明年为Subaru车队效力。」 「我的目标是要成为WRC的车手，我知道Subaru车队能帮我达成这个目标。」 Subaru在声明中表示选择Hirvonen的原因， 是以长远的考量及培养年轻车手的想法为依据来做决定， 年轻的Hirvonen是一位相当有潜力的车手，所以最终决定选择他。 不过这样的讲法无法解释为何当初要签下比Hirvonen大九岁的Burns， 作为2004年的正式车手。 但是Subaru车队发言人宣称由於是车队策略的改变才会做出如此的决定， 他表示：「车队的策略已改变，日本原厂决定2004年的目标还是车手世界冠军。 这是他们认为最好的策略，我们的决定并没前後不一。」 --

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