Photo: Marius Torgersrud/Rally Norway

Drivers’ comments at Service Park E

Feb. 14, 2009

1. Sebastien Loeb/Daniel Elena (Citroën C4)

“There was no loose snow on the road today which means that being first car on the road was not a bad thing at all. Second round this afternoon will be another matter, it will be difficult.”

3. Mikko Hirvonen/Jarmo Lehtinen (Ford Focus RS WRC 08)

“Sebastien Loeb was driving incredibly well.” He kept thinking he was going to see marks on the snow banks where Seb had been trying too hard but he never saw them. Both he and Seb were going absolutely flat out.

4. Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Antilla (Ford Focus RS WRC 08)

He was going well but thinks he is not driving perfectly as he is going sideways too much. “Yesterday we had a trouble with the co driver door window which kept up opening unexpectedly. The mechanics did a good job last night and it hasn’t been a problem today. It’s warmer in the car at last.”

2. Dani Sordo/Marc Marti (Citroën C4)

At the end of stage 10 they broke an anti roll bar and on stage 13 they stall twice. They are very worried that the Henning Solberg will overtake them.

11. Petter Solberg/Phill Mills (Citroën Xsara)

Has been losing time all morning: one of the reasons is that the throttle is sticking wide open. “That has completely destroyed my confidence.”

6. Henning Solberg/Cato Menkerud (Ford Focus RS WRC 08)

“Much happier today, the gear box worked well, the car feels good and we want to catch Dani.”

16. Matthew Wilson/Scott Martin (Ford Focus RS WRC 08)

Having difficulty because the brake pedal is very hard. No other problem at the moment.

5. Urmo Aava/Kuldar Sikk (Ford Focus RS WRC 08)

“He really doesn’t know what the problem is, he hasn’t got the feeling and doesn’t know why.

8. Conrad Rautenbach/Daniel Barrit (Citroën C4)

“Only difficulty was the brake problem.”

18. Mads Ostberg/Ole Kristian Unnerud (Subaru Impreza WRC 2008)

“Things are going much better today. The car has a better set up, the roads are much nicer today.” He still has to have the windows a bit open because of the mist problem.

7. Evgeny Novikov/Dale Moscatt (Citroën C4)

“After a disappointing day yesterday, we are much happier today” Still has some clutch and gear shifting problems.

20. Anders Grøndal/Maria Andersson (Subaru Impreza WRC)

Going much better today than yesterday. He has put the name of his girl friend on the back of the car to celebrate Valentine’s day!

23 Peter Van Merksteijn/Erwin Mombaerts (Ford Focus RS WRC 07)

They made a mistake in the pace notes in stage 12 and went out of the road.

12. Sebastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (Citroën C4)

Arrived safely at the service. Problem with the alternator cable.

22 Peter jr. Van Merksteijn/Eddy Chevaillier (Ford Focus RS WRC 06)

Lot of problems because of a very bad recce. It is also his first time in snow but he is still going.

21 Eamonn Boland/MJ Morrisseey (Subaru WRX STi)

Went off the road.

60 Bernt Kollevold/Veronica Engan (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX)

Fuel pump problem, is hoping to repair and continue tomorrow.

46. Patrik Sandell/Emil Axelsson (Skoda Fabia Super 2000)

Everything is going well. The great problem now is that Brynildsen is running a long way back so he doesn’t get to know his times.

47. Armindo Araujo/Miguel Ramalho (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX)

“No pbs at all, everything is going according to plan.”

31 Martin Prokop/Jan Tomanek (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX)

Pb with the central differential. They don’t know if it is an ordinary sensor or if something has broken. Until they know they don’t know if they have to change the gear box.