Photo: Benjamin A. Ward/Rally Norway

Drivers’ comments from SS 15 Lillehammer 2

1. Sébastien Loeb/Daniel Elena (Citroën C4)

“This was undrivable, the road is terrible. I didn’t make any mistakes but we were 2 seconds per km slower than this morning. The only good thing is that it is really the same for Mikko.”

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

“It was very difficult. There was a lot more snow on the surface but I took one second from him. I am not giving up.”

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

“This afternoon seems to suit me. I have taken time from Loeb on the two first stages this afternoon. I made the car softer in service and that has worked.”

2. Dani Sordo/Marc Marti (Citroën C4)

“We changed the springs and made the car harder in service. That has given me a better feeling but now the conditions are terrible.” 

11. Petter Solberg/Phill Mills (Citroën Xsara)

“We have a leak in the gear box, we can’t find it but you can smell the oil. The car went on to 3 cylinders on stage 14 and it’s still not running properly. I hope we can make it back to Hamar tonight.”

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

“We are up to fourth and past my brother. I hope he can keep going in the event. For us it’s working well now. The last stage was very slippery but it’s still good fun.”

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

“It was horrible in there, the car is moving all the time, it’s so slippery outside the ruts, it’s a complete contrast and it shows how perfect the road was this morning.”

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

“I feel much better with the car now. We change the dampers on the car, I had a strange feeling with the old ones but now it’s good and I can attack much more. I feel this grip is much better this afternoon.”

8. Conrad Rautenbach/Daniel Barrit (Citroën C4)

“We had a problem in the first stage this afternoon. The air intake was filled with snow so we lost 3 minutes and then in this last stage the condition was terrible. All I can do now is push to see what time we can do on the long one.” 

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

“I feel better in the car, it’s coming. We don’t have the problem with the wind screen anymore but on that road it was so tough. This is a new car for me I guess we have to take time learning it.”

7. Evgeny Novikov/Dale Moscatt (Citroën C4)

“We have a gear box problem. The car took 6 seconds to change down a gear and this cause me to spin in one fast corner.”

12 Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (Citroën C4)

“The time in there was good, we were only 3 seconds off Sebastien. The surface was difficult with lots of ruts but after this morning’s problem, I am happy.”

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

“There was a lot of loose snow in there which made the surface slower than this morning but our car worked well and we have had no problems. I am still looking after my lead.”

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

“It felt terrible in there. I had a lot of under steer, I thought the time would be slow but it is actually not too bad. It’s incredible when the gravel comes through how much this is changing the grip.”

Published: 2009-02-14 16:44