Date: Saturday, September 15th
Day: 2 Flash N°: 9
Special stage: Datça 1 Distance: 10.70 km
Weather: Hot and sunny
Road conditions: Dry and dusty
Car 1. OGIER/INGRASSIA
He finished the stage with a front right wheel loose and hanging off. A potential steering
arm or a wishbone issue? The crew pulled to the side of the liaison after the stage finish
to make emergency repairs. “Something is broken…”
Car 3. SUNINEN/MARKKULA
“It was okay stage for me. A lot of loose gravel and downhill braking.”
Car 4. MIKKELSEN/JAEGER-SYNNEVAAG – fastest time
“I am trying to drive as I feel is fast within the limits. So many stones coming out. Second
pass will be really tough. Terrible news for Thierry. They were going at an incredible
speed. I guess this can happen.”
Car 5. NEUVILLE/GILSOUL
Neuville and Gilsoul had worked at length on the car to carry out emergency repairs on
the road side. They switched the rear suspension strut to the front before the stage and
patched up as much damage as possible. But the decision was taken for the crew to
return to Asparan and retire for the day.
Car 6. PADDON/MARSHALL
Stalled in the stage. “We stalled the car coming down on the hairpins. We could not turn in
and it stopped. I was struggling to get the car into the corners. It’s very loose. A lot
different to yesterday.”
Car 7. LATVALA/ANTTILA
“The engine stalled on one of the hairpins and I lost at least four seconds. I don’t know
why. I came off the throttle and it stopped and it did not start so quickly. It was an
important stage for us to get a good stage time. That’s the way it is.”
Car 8. TÄNAK/JARVEOJA
“We keep going. We are still nowhere. We need to keep working. I am fourth so I cannot
be happy.”
Car 9. LAPPI/FERM
“Nice view close to the end. I don’t know. A lot of loose gravel and a very twisty stage. I
can only laugh. All the time something….”
Car 11. BREEN/MARTIN
“I missed the hairpin and had to go and reverse. I tried my best. The car was a little bit
better in there.”
Car 40. AVCI/ALKIR
Stopped near the end of SS8.
