Photo: Tony Welam/McKlein

Rally Norway 2007 – Leg 3

Driver comments after stage 18 Elverum 2

Heavy snow storm for first fifteen cars then cleared, -1 ºC

End of stage flashes

1 Sébastien Loeb/Daniel Elena (Citroen C4)
“OK I made some mistakes yesterday so now we are just driving for one manufacturer point and we have done that. We have also tested some things on the car, but this has not been a good weekend for Citroen. I know we have a good car on tarmac, but when it is very slippery on snow I am not so sure yet.”

25 Juho Hänninen/Mikko Markkula (Mitsubishi Lancer WR05)
“Friday was OK for me, but the last two days have been very, very difficult. I can only hope I can at least get some points in Argentina.”

17 Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene (Ford Focus)
”I am very happy because it has been a great experience. The temperatures have been very high on this stage, slowed a bit, but overall very good.”

20 Jan Kopecky/Filip Schovanek (Skoda Fabia WRC)
”This was quite difficult for a last stage, because I don’t know it at all because yesterday after Guy Wilks went off we just drove through slowly at road speed and now there is a big snow storm. We are at the bottom of the top ten because of my mistakes on Friday.”

6 Daniel Carlsson/Denis Giraudet (Citroen Xsara WRC)
“I am not too happy that Manfred went off on this stage. I would have liked him to keep going better, but (with a big laugh) I am happy about Pons going off after our big fight.”

19 Gigi Galli/Giovanni Bernacchini (Citroen Xsara WRC)
”In the stage we got a message on the GPS that Stohl was off, so then we drive very safe and careful. It has been a hard weekend for me. Yesterday I just could not find the right pace, but the important thing is we are here with no damage to the car.”

5 Manfred Stohl/Ilka Minor (Citroen Xsara WRC)
Looking very dejected. ”I cut the inside of a corner and thought I would be okay, but the snow pulled the car in.”

9 Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Antilla (Ford Focus RS WRC 06)
”A great rally and I am very pleased. Maybe we could have even had a podium without my first day problems. This last stage was very difficult and I went straight on at one junction. I must try for a podium next time.”

10 Henning Solberg/Cato Menkerud (Ford Focus RS WRC 06)
“Got to the end and shouted ‘Have I done it?’  Hell that is brilliant. You don’t believe it. I stalled on the start line and was stuck for ten seconds. This is just amazing.”  (Petter pulled up beside him and they both shouted congratulations at each other.)

7 Petter Solberg/Phil Mills (Subaru Impreza WRC 2006)
“It’s been a great rally for Norway. A really exciting weekend. Honestly we have tried everything to beat Henning. Maybe we could have done it with a longer stud, but I am very pleased for him and quite happy with 4th place.”

3 Marcus Grönholm/Timo Rautiainen (Ford Focus RS WRC 06)
“Yes it’s good to take second place, especially as Seb will get no championship points, but it would be nicer to win.”

4 Mikko Hirvonen/Jarmo Lethinen (Ford Focus RS WRC 06)
“This was a much bigger win for me than Australia last year. It means more because I was fighting all the time with Marcus and Seb. Australia was a little bit easy. For me this was the perfect weekend. I hope the rally stays in the WRC because of course I have won it.”

8 Chris Atkinson/Glenn MacNeall (Subaru Impreza WRC 2006)
“Well we are hare at the finish and that’s something. I’ve got to look forward to the new car in Mexico. “

16 Matthew Wilson/Michael Orr (Ford Focus RS WRC 06)
“It would have been nice to get one result out of the two snow rallies. We have done a few good stages. It is just a shame I made that silly mistake yesterday. Now I can’t wait for some sunshine in Mexico.”

23 Mads Østberg/Ole Kristian Unnerud (Subaru WRC S10)
“This has been a very hard rally for us, because of my mistake yesterday, but we have set some good times on other stages. Now we are very tired and just want a good sleep.”

64 Patrik Flodin/Maria Andersson (Subaru Impreza)
“We have had a good weekend here and now we have won. That is fantastic. The next time out for us in Group N is Argentina.”