Foto: Mari Henrikke Gunnarsdotter Vandsemb

Drivers’ Comments: SS8 Kongsvinger 2

1. Sebastien Loeb/Daniel Elena (Citroën C4)

“It’s a big big attack for me and a big fight with Mikko so it is also very important not to make a single mistake. Big pressure but it has been a very enjoyable battle on these roads and we are all flat out in the snow.”

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

“If I can I will try to keep my lead instead of dropping back and just go flat out tomorrow. I am sure it’s going to be a big fight with Seb all the way to the end.”

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

“On stage 7 I had no paddle shift on my gear box but half way to this stage I suddenly saw on the display that it had started working again and everything is ok for the moment. We’ll see if it keeps working on the next stage.”

2. Dani Sordo/Marc Marti (Citroën C4)

Shaking his head: “I am loosing some time when it is narrow and bumpy like in this stage, I just don’t know why. I haven’t got the confidence.”

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

”I think I lost about 40 seconds with being stuck in a snow bank. The front of the car was deep in the snow and people had to push me out. It has a damaged driver’s door that wouldn’t shut properly.”

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

“Tomorrow I want to really fight with the guys in front, Sebastien and Mikko so I am very relieved to lose only 3 seconds on this stage: after the split times half way through it showed that I was 6 seconds down. This afternoon stages have been much better for me than this morning.”

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

“This is shit, no sun at all. I am under steering everywhere and losing all my studs. I just can’t drive it like this.”

11. Peter Solberg/Phil Mills (Citroën Xsara)

“It’s going well and I am quite happy. I am keeping on pushing and trying out different things but this afternoon I had hardly any studs at all after the first stage and all the way through these two stages so I have got to be careful on the last one.”

8. Conrad Rautenbach/Daniel Barrit (Citroën C4)

“My time on this stage wasn’t too bad although it felt terrible to drive with no grip and the car sliding about everywhere. I am betting everyone must be saying the same thing.”

12. Sebastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (Citroën C4)

”Also shaking his head: I did two stupid mistakes on this stage and I lost a lot of time stuck in a snow bank.”

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

“It has been quite tricky this afternoon with all the lose snow that has been pulled on to the road. We also lost a few studs in our tyres and had to change tem, otherwise it’s been a good battle with Sebastien Ogier.

7. Evgeny Novikov/Dale Moscatt (Citroën C4)

“I have had a lot of fun today despite being on the wrong springs, they are much too hard. But this stage has been the best for us so far because all the bumps were good for our suspension. I must say it is very enjoyable driving in the snow.”

19. P-G Andersson/Jonas Andersson (Skoda Fabia WRC)

Smiling: “No, no, this stage was really difficult for us. I thought I was much too sideways everywhere but in the end I am quite happy with my time.”

Published: 2009-02-13 22:03