Date: Saturday, September 14th
Day: 3 Flash N°: 4
Service: D (Asparan)
Bugra Banaz and Denis Fahri were the only permanent retirements. Banaz’s Ford Fiesta R5 caught fire and was destroyed on the road section between SS6 and SS7 on Friday afternoon.
Four drivers (Pedro – 46, Rovanpera – 21, Gill – 51 and Solberg – 43) restarted under Rally 2.
Car 1. OGIER/INGRASSIA
“I realise that the steering is not so straight so I ask them to adjust it if possible. We need to keep pushing, give everything and stay ahead. It will be less rough than yesterday so we can enjoy it.”
Car 3. SUNINEN/LEHTINEN
“It is going to be dry. We can choose some hards but the question is how many mediums we take – if any. We are in the game now. You cannot be on the limit here. Today is going to be really tricky. The first stage could be quite rough.”
Car 4. LAPPI/FERM
“It is a small gap on this rally. A lot of things can happen. Today is faster and maybe a bit smoother. One hit could easily break something. It was slow yesterday and the car could accept the hits. I don’t care if we are leading. It is just a bonus. We need to keep doing the same performance. Maybe we are not leading. I just want to finish the rally.”
Car 5. MEEKE/MARSHALL
“The last stage of the loop is quite smooth like the stages through the windmills in Portugal. We have to think about changing the set-up between stages. The long one is still a big challenge. Last year the problems happened on Saturday, even though everyone thought Friday was the problem. Road position is not in our favour today but we will give it a go.”
Car 6. SORDO/DEL BARRIO
“Today is better suited. I was surprised how bad the roads were yesterday. I was driving at 60 or 70% in some corners. I will really try today. It is a better surface.”
Car 7. TIDEMAND/FLOENE
“It looks like it will be quite loose today. There won’t be any rocks and I can choose my own lines. For me it is good. I am here to learn.”
Car 8. TÄNAK/JÄRVEOJA
“Overall the roads are more smooth today and the conditions should be easier. The long one will be demanding and needs a lot of focus. Our performance was better yesterday than last year. I never hope for anyone’s misfortune. There are still enough kilometres to go and I hope our pace is better than it was yesterday.”
Car 10. LATVALA/ANTTILA
“The plan is to not get frustrated, get motivated and see what happens and try to do the performance we had yesterday. Trophies are only given at the end…we were thinking about seven tyres today with one on the roof….!”
Car 11. NEUVILLE/GILSOUL
“We don’t have any other choice other than to go for it. The road position is better. I hope we have a good morning. The first two stages are the same and the last one is new. The stages are a little bit smoother. But we saw last year Ogier and I had trouble so we need to be careful.”
Car 89. MIKKELSEN/JAEGER
“It is new stages today. A bit shorter and a bit easier. I enjoy these stages. The last one of the loop is like Finland. I look forward to that.”
