Hirvonen keen to leave as top non-VW

Mikko Hirvonen says finishing his final World Rally Championship season as "best of the rest" will be a satisfying way to head into retirement after this weekend's Rally GB.

The M-Sport star announced last week that this event would be his WRC farewell. He won in Britain in 2007 and is keen to sign off with a second success. But Hirvonen acknowledged the dominant Volkswagens would likely be invincible, so is also aiming to defend his 16-point cushion over Citroen's Mads Ostberg for fourth in the championship.

"Wales is always one of the best and this week I would love to win, but I think the Volkswagen boys will be tough to beat," he said. "With the titles sorted, everybody is coming to GB ready for a big fight. We all want to win this one.

"I've told the team and I think the other guys will be telling their [teams]: 'You're going to have to get the trailers ready for this one, the cars might not be coming back!' If I could end my career as the top non-Volkswagen driver this season then I would be happy with that."

The 34-year-old expects to end his 163rd and final World Rally Car appearance with a smile on his face.

"I'm not sad about this. I'm happy," said Hirvonen. "I'm looking forward to the next stage of my life. I've been living my dream for the last 13 years and it has been amazing. But it's been a very selfish way of life, only thinking about myself and when I have to go testing or training. And now the time has come to think about my boys and spending more time with my family.

"Whatever happens, it's going to be a fantastic weekend and a fantastic rally."