Date: Friday, September 13 th
Day: 2 Flash N°: 2
Service: B (Asparan)
Car 1. OGIER/INGRASSIA
“We had a puncture 6km before the end of the first stage and the air came out quickly. I
was not happy to see that on my dash. We saw there was a cut on the inside of the tyre.
After that the loop was okay. We had to go over and go around many big stones. This
afternoon will be very tricky and the rally is still very long. The forecast has to be really
sure about the rain, because if you go out on medium tyres and there is no rain, then you
do not come back to service….”
Car 5. MEEKE/MARSHALL
“We didn’t have a puncture. It was a problem with the sensor. The middle one was okay
but my rhythm was awful in the last one. What we have seen this morning, we can take
the reference points into the afternoon. It’s a lottery if you pick up a puncture. Let’s see
what we can do this afternoon.”
Car 8. TÄNAK/JÄRVEOJA
“I believe we did the best choice possible. The risk for one spare was not too high
because we were opening the road and there were not too many loose rocks on the road.
If the rain is not coming then the medium tyre is not an option. I felt better in the car than
last year. I cannot say I enjoy it, but the feeling was better than one year ago.”
Car 10. LATVALA/ANTTILA
Two stage wins during the morning. “I was calculating my speed but I was too careful on
the long stage. The feeling with the car is really nice. I try to balance it out for the
second loop. Let’s keep it simple this afternoon – six hard (tyres)!”
Car 11. NEUVILLE/GILSOUL
“Not at all happy to be honest. I tried to drive well. We are missing grip and the car is
moving around. Full 60-litre tank and I could not use the advantage of anything. I did not
do these stages last year. I retired before. Struggling to keep the car on the line. We are
missing performances when we are cleaning. The mechanics know what to do now. We
are eight seconds behind Ott and 35 behind Seb. It is not a catastrophe, but we could
have been much quicker.”
Car 89. MIKKELSEN/JAEGER
“It has been an okay loop and we are in the fight. I lost too much time in the last stage
without knowing why. I tried to stay in the lines and follow the road. Maybe I can push
harder. You need to attack when you can and be clever when you have to. I don’t know
how any rain will affect the stages. I expect the grip to be quite okay anyway. The stages
can take water. If you go with softer tyres you still use the rubber and the stones will still
be there…”
Car 21. ROVANPERÄ/HALTTUNEN
The Finn managed to complete SS4 and dropped another four minutes with his ongoing
tyre issues.
Car 45. NOBRE/MORALES
Stopped before the end of SS4. DNF.
Car 46. PEDRO/BALDACCINI
Lost over five minutes in SS3 and did not start SS4.
Car 51. GILL/MACNEALL
Stopped before the end of SS4. DNF.
