Plex
Zorce Jedi Master
Joined: 01 May 2005
Posts: 9039
Location: T&T
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 Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 2:17 pm Post subject: WRC:Mikko Hirvonen remains in command |
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The relatively short final stage of leg one once again fell Sebastien Loeb's way as the Citroen C4 driver continued to put pressure on the BP Ford Focus duo of rally leader Mikko Hirvonen and Marcus Gronholm.
Loeb completed the stage in 5:48.9s closing the gap to second placed Gronholm to just 1.8 seconds. Rally leader Hirvonen was second fastest to Loeb and still has a nice 17 second cushion over the Monte Carlo winner.
Hirvonen did however admit that he had perhaps made the wrong tyre choice but overall he was most happy with the first day of the Norwegian Rally. �It has been good, I have really enjoyed it a great battle with Marcus and Sebastien.�
Gronholm had a difficult afternoon and admits he is not quite sure why he has seen his lead over Sebastien Loeb, once at 19 seconds, reduced so dramatically. �I don't know why, I don't understand, but tomorrow is another day but we lost too much time.�
Petter Solberg's afternoon has been pretty impressive in the Subaru Impreza despite bending his steering after the last service. �Fourth place is not bad at all and we have got through this without any major problems so it is not so bad actually.�
Dani Sordo was fifth fastest in the second Citroen C4 and after a tough opening day which sees the Spanish driver some three minutes off the ultimate pace. Henning Solberg meanwhile vaulted ahead of Gigi Galli in the overall standings with his sixth fastest time.
Chris Atkinson has had a fairly tough time of it on leg one.
The Subaru driver was downbeat following stage eight, despite his seventh fastest time which leaves him ninth overall. �It's all we can do,� he said. �It's never fun to be where we are. Anyway, let's look forward to the future.�
Toni Gardemeister was eighth fastest despite a spin late in the stage that he believes cost him around a second. Gardemeister is however pretty content with his fifth position overall.
One man who was not happy at all was OMV Kronos driver Daniel Carlsson who was 17 seconds off the pace in the stage. �My driving today has been really bad,� Carlsson admitted. �It is my confidence - it is my driving, really bad.�
The drivers now head to the �Viking Ship' for service and the second leg of the rally kicks off Saturday morning at 08.09 CET with special stage nine.
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