Last updated 19:56, Thursday, 06 November 2008

THE Dovenby-based BP Ford team scored a one/two finish in last weekend’s Rally Japan, Mikko Hivornen coming first and Jari-Matti Latvala second.

Unfortunately, Citroen’s Sébestian Loeb came third and that was enough to secure his fifth drivers’ championship, a new record.

With just the Rally GB left next month Ford, run by M-Sport, can still claim their third consecutive manufacturers’ title.

The success in Japan was marred however by a bad crash involving François Duval driving for their sister team, Stobart VK M-Sport Ford.

Duval’s co-driver Patrick Pivato suffered serious pelvis and leg injuries and had to be airlifted to hospital in Sapporo.

Pivato has undergone a series of successful operations to stem internal bleeding and last night was brought out of his medically-induced coma.

The Frenchman woke with a smile of recognition for his wife and brother-in-law who travelled to his bedside and has been chatting with his family and Duval.

Doctors are happy with his progress and he may be able to fly to Lyon today or tomorrow for the final operation.

See page 48 for Rally Japan reports and photographs.