RALLY NEWS NO.10               Felindre - Service - Saturday 5.30

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 14 RESOLFEN 2
1st (7) Petter Solberg/Phil Mills (Subaru) 2.46.50.3
2nd (18) Sebastien Loeb/Daniel Elena (Xsara WRC) 2.47.31.1
3rd (8) Tommi Makinen/Kaj Lindstrom (Subaru) 2.49.14.0
4th (17) Colin McRae/Derek Ringer (Xsara WRC) 2.49.20.4
5th (3) Harri Rovanpera/Risto Pietilainen (206 WRC) 2.51.20.9
6th (5) Francois Duval/Stephane Prevot (Focus WRC) 2.52.42.3
7th (2) Freddy Loix/Sven Smeets (206 WRC) 2.53.16.9
8th (22) Roman Kresta/Jan Tomanek (206 WRC) 2.54.22.6
9th (34) Manfred Stohl/Ilka Minor (206 WRC) 2.54.22.7
10th (24) Juuso Pykalisto/Risto Mannisenmaki (206 WRC) 2.54.49.6

Through the long, 43 kms Resolfen stage Petter Solberg was once again fastest, by just over 9s from Sebastien Loeb.  Fortune favours the brave however, Solberg reporting hitting a massive pothole, left by a large dislodged rock about 2 kms into the stage.  The impact was so sharp that the steering wheel position even moved.  Petter and co driver Phil Mills thought for sure that they would at least have a puncture, if not a broken wheel. The Pirelli tyre held together and the Subaru pairing were able to complete the stage at unabated speed despite a vibration through the front.  Sebastien Loeb reported no problems, but at the same time the Citroen driver seems just a little down in the dumps, possibly restricted by the overall concept of making sure he gets the car to the finish in one piece to ensure that Citroen takes the World Rally title. Colin McRae was just under 4s faster than Tommi Makinen through the test, Colin saying "Everything went well, we will keep the car exactly as it is now for tomorrow.  These were difficult stages in places today, differing surfaces, quite slippy".

Tommi Makinen reported no problems, "A good run, nothing special".  Interestingly, as the cars waited to clock in Colin climbed into Tommi's Subaru and lay back chatting to the Finn while they waited.  Quite a photo opportunity!! Two great rally stars, one definitely retiring after this weekend….and with Colin…who knows??    

Harri Rovanpera in 5th place is still content to hold station, Harri saying "We drive hard but nothing stupid, not 150 per cent, we can drop 10s a stage and still hold our position".   Freddy Loix in the 2nd Peugeot in the line said "The car feels better on the softer suspension for me, we are not on the limit of the car yet, I'm not driving cleanly enough".  Roman Kresta in yet another 206 said "My car is working very well, but I had a worrying moment at the end of that long stage, before finish, with many spectators". 

Juuso Pykalisto had a good run through the stage but through the water splash water came into the car and the screen misted up, stayed that way for several kilometres.  Antony Warmbold had hydraulic gear change problems and went on to manual for the whole stage. His time suffered accordingly.  Jan Kopecky, the 21 year old from the Czech Republic in the Skoda, found the stage very difficult, very muddy, but otherwise having a good day. Yesterday he had a problem with the main driveshaft in the car. Jan is driving with a broken nose, sustained working under the bonnet of a car at home. Tobias Johansson, now 14th overall, dropped quite a few seconds at the start of that stage 14 when his Toyota's engine stalled.  Latvala is now 11th. Auriol 12th and making up for lost time, Warmbold 13th, Gardemeister 15th after a miserable day with transmission troubles. News of another retirement is that Daniel Sola's Xsara has succumbed to a mechanical malady.

In Junior WRC Daniel Carlsson extended his lead, 20s faster than Kris Meeke through Resolfen, Meeke's Opel Corsa having an electrical problem. Indeed the Ulsterman is fortunate to be still going, the car stopped going into the stage, and stopped after it, the electrics affecting the throttle body some way. In Group N Geoff Jones in the Subaru now has a minute advantage over Gavin Cox in the Lancer.

BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON