Driver Quotes – Leg 2

Servicepark – Vikingskipet

Service F: kl. 17.49

1. Henning SOLBERG:
This has been fantastic. Beautiful rally with many spectators. I have to thank all the marshals who made it possible. Now we have driven three rallies with the new car without a single technical problem and I am really happy.

30. Mads ØSTBERG:
This couldn’t have gone better for us. Henning’s in another class, so I feel like the winner. We have also driven the whole rally without a technical problem with the exception of a bit of engine overheating on SS3.

8. Anders GRØNDAL:
This exceeded all expectation. After going off in Sweden last Sunday I was skeptical for ages about whether the car would be 100 %. It was, but I was a bit cautious, and I don’t think we found a proper rhythm until today.

3. Thomas SCHIE:
A tragic weekend for us. On the last stage our alternator went and it took a while before I realized. To be honest I have driven badly. But we got to the finish, so that is progress compared to the last two events. Still, I have to put this behind me as soon as possible. I never got the right feeling.

18. Trond SVEINSVOLL:
We had little to drive for towards the end and have taken it easy. We got a puncture on a rear wheel so the car was difficult to drive. Still, I have now driven three rallies in a row with this car without technical problems and I’m not used to that with WRC cars.

16. Patrik FLODIN:
I’m satisfied. We have finished safe and sound. We found out that our times from SS11 would be changed before we drove SS13, so then it was easy to take it calmly.

12. Juha SALO:
The end result was okay. It was fantastic over the mountain on SS13. I liked the roads here much better than the ones we usually drive back home in Finland. There, there are more straights and higher speed. Here it’s been demanding. The whole framework around the rally, the indoor Service Park and everything was totally brilliant. Just a shame that I ruined it for myself on SS11.

10. Martin STENSHORNE:
We went off the road on SS13 and got a lot of snow in the air vents. Otherwise it’s been okay, We had good pace at the end.

11. Eivind STEFFENSEN:
It went well in the end. I got full points in the Norwegian Championship so I have to be satisfied with that.

Servicepark – Vikingskipet

Service E: kl. 12.56

1. Henning SOLBERG:
Very difficult on SS11. The road was dug up a bit from the first time. But we got through it okay and the car’s in one piece. Just a case of taking a deep breath, filling up the fuel and get on with it. I’m looking forward to the finish.

2. Daniel CARLSSON:
It’s going well. We’ll have to satisfy ourselves with second place. Henning is driving well. We are struggling to get to know the very demanding roads here. We also had a faulty shock absorber installation that we have to change.

30. Mads ØSTBERG:
It’s going well. The last stage was difficult and I don’t understand how Henning and Daniel drive. Their tracks don’t suit my driving style.

12. Juha SALO:
We jumped right off the road. First out on the right hand side then also on the left and blocked it unfortunately for those two who were behind us. We also lost the lead, but that was entirely my own fault.

8. Anders GRØNDAL:
We had to get out and get Salo on the road, and lost a lot of time. It was a shame because it was going very well on SS10 and right up til Salo went off on SS11.

3. Thomas SCHIE:
SS10 was totally fine, but on SS11 we overtook Juha Salo and were stuck behind him far too long.

16. Patrik FLODIN:
It’s going well. We took the lead but lost a bit because we had to stop where Salo was stuck.

6. Rune DALSJØ:
We are driving for practice really. We had a stop at a crossroad on the last stage but otherwise everything’s okay. There’s an incredible number of people along the roads.

18. Trond SVEINSVOLL:
It’s very so-so. We had a total stop on SS11 and had to back up in a crossroad.

10. Martin STENSHORNE:
We took a chance on SS11, thinking that most people would take it a bit easy because the road was so poor, so when we saw the possibility to take a few chances we cranked it up!

11. Eivind STEFFENSEN:
We’ve got a leak in the left front shock absorber, but are topping it up between every stage. There were a lot of jumps and bumps on SS11.

37. Birger GUNDERSEN:
I’ve still got cramp in my left leg and there is also something from with the left front shock absorber.

14. Bernt KOLLEVOLD:
It’s going fine. We are chasing Steffensen. We lost nearly all the air from the right front wheel on the last stage, but got it to the finish even though the car got difficult to drive.

15. Henning NYBERG:
We forgot to remove the cover from the front of the radiator before the start on SS10, so the engine got too hot. Otherwise the car is fine.

38. Jo Inge BAKKEN:
The transmission was smoking on the last stage and we had a spin. Luckily the gasket is holding out.

40. Robert NYGÅRD:
We took it calmly on SS11 to save the car, so it’s in one piece and all okay.

24. Mika SALO:
That last stage was about survival. I am actually surprised that the car is all in one piece. I’m not used to it. We have lots of new tyres and I’m looking forward to the new roads on the next stages.

31. Christian A. SELMER:
Yesterday I was terrified, today I am just scared. The car goes incredibly fast but we are starting to get into it now. Looking forward to the next stages.

27. Dennis LEVYATOV:
Ha, ha. That was a difficult stage. Unbelievable that we didn’t wreck the car on SS11. It’s still in one piece and good.

21. Robert OPLAND:
It’s going well for the conditions. We have a totally new car so I wasn’t expecting it to go this well. We are struggling with a standard front diff, and we have to brake very early in corners.

71. Sveinung BIELTVEDT:
It’s going well. Luck followed misfortune on that last stage. First we were held up by the car in front, but after that we passed Trond G. Svenkerud who was stopped with his bonnet up in a crossroad. So we’re leading our class.

43. Jørgen SOLBERG:
We drove into a post yesterday, but otherwise it’s been a trouble-free rally for us. Nothing wrong with the car.

Servicepark – Vikingskipet

Service D: kl. 09.53

1. Henning SOLBERG:
We’re taking it smoothly. Everything’s ok. An incredible number of spectators out so early especially given that it’s -17 degrees out here.

2. Daniel CARLSSON:
Henning’s driving well. It’s going to be hard to catch up with him but we’re going to try to close the gap. The car’s fine. I’m not a sore loser, the local hero is driving well and this is good fun. It’s going to be tough at Lillehammer. There are loads of Norwegians here so I suppose I have to let him win, really... Ha ha! No I’m going to put my foot down a bit just so he doesn’t feel quite so secure.

30. Mads ØSTBERG:
It’s going fine. No problems. We didn’t get off very well on SS9 but finished much better. Beautiful roads. Everyone involved from the organisers’ side has done a great job. It’s really good fun. I want to catch up a bit but it’s too far to reach Henning! There are loads of people along the roads, taking photos and everything. If everything goes well we’ll continue at the same pace.

12. Juha SALO:
We’re having real fun! The car’s fine and the roads are fantastic.

8. Anders GRØNDAL:
OK on the whole. The engine stalled twice at crossroads on SS9, apart from that we are satisfied so far.

7. Tord LINNERUD:
I haven’t really had much luck. Most was ruined when I was blocked by Thomas Schie yesterday and today we overtook Patrik Flodin again.

3. Thomas SCHIE:
I haven’t got the right feeling, but I was satisfied with SS8.

16. Patrik FLODIN:
We had a puncture 4 km before the finish on SS8, and were high up in a snowdrift. SS9 was fine.

6. Rune DALSJØ:
It’s good to be in the game again but I have no self confidence. I was very down after going off yesterday. We haven’t really got anything to drive for now, but the car is feeling fine, anyway.

18. Trond SVEINSVOLL:
We drove into a fence on SS8 and I have a really bad headache.

10. Martin STENSHORNE:
We had to disconnect the central diff and we have almost no drive from the front wheels. We knew about this yesterday but didn’t manage to get it fixed at the last Service. I hope we can do something now. We also got a good deal of snow in the air vents on SS9 and had some engine problems after that.

11. Eivind STEFFENSEN:
The engine cut out on SS8 and we had to back up in two crossroads on SS9. It was a typical driver error, I think I’m taking it too cautiously. If I had driven as normal we wouldn’t have stopped in crossroads.

37. Birger GUNDERSEN:
I’ve got cramp in my left leg so have got problems with left foot braking.

14. Bernt KOLLEVOLD:
It’s going ok but we had to back up at two crossroads. I have a good feeling on the fast stretches but struggle a bit where it’s twisty.

15. Henning NYBERG:
I’ve still got problems with the rear balance, so I can’t get into the rhythm.

38. Jo Inge BAKKEN:
We’ve got a defective head gasket. I hope it lasts to the finish.

40. Robert NYGÅRD:
It’s going well. As long as the car’s ok, there’ll be no problems.

24. Mika SALO:
It’s going well. I’m happy. We overtook drivers ahead of us on both stages now and didn’t lose anything for it. I think the roads will be a bit rough now we’re going to drive them for a second time so I am going to take it very smoothly to save the car for SS10 and SS11.

SS 9 – Ringsaker 1 (23,00 km) kl. 08.29

1. Henning SOLBERG:
It went quick! We have full control. I have no desire to lose Rally Norway. I could have gone faster but I don’t want to take too many risks. There can be poor conditions on other roads.

22. Thomas KVAM (upon arrival at the Service Park after retiring):
Isn’t there a Service now? I better speak to the co-driver, we must have made a mistake. Ha ha. No, the corner was too difficult for us. The brakes have gone and we’re mad if we drive at full speed without brakes. So now we get to take a trip into the forest and watch the other guys, if there’s anything to see.

SS 8 – Brumunddal 1 (22,47 km) kl. 07.51

1. Henning SOLBERG:
Totally fine. We’re taking no chances, but are focussing on driving properly. The Swede said it was bad to drive first, but it wasn’t. And I already knew that!

Cato MENKERUD:
I didn’t really know where the start was, I haven’t cruised around much in Brumunddal before, but we’ll get there. It’s great fun when there’s loads of people around, so everyone has to come and cheer us on!