Henning Solberg (NOR) / Cato Menkerud - Ford Focus RS WRC. 2009 Rally Ireland. Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team secured a superb triple points haul at the opening round of the 2009 FIA World Rally Championship, Rally Ireland. The Cumbria-based team led the rally on the first day before seeing all three of its Ford Focus RS WRCs go on to bag top ten slots, and finished as the leading manufacturer team after a supremely tough event. Henning Solberg/Cato Menkerud enjoyed their best rally on asphalt, running in the top four for the majority of the event. After SS15 Geevagh on the final day they were forced to concede the number four spot to the charging Chris Atkinson. However, the Norwegian pair switched from the Pirelli Sottozero winter tyre to the PZero dry weather tyre for the penultimate stage to try and find an advantage in their battle with the Australian - and powered to a scorching second-fastest stage time. At the same time Atkinson slipped up on his run, which meant Solberg and Menkerud took fourth and opened their points account for the 2009 season with an outstanding result.