INDIA in F1

Tag: Citroen

  • Dayinsure Wales Rally GB: Gill and MRF finish 12th; Ogier survives Latvala challenge for title

    Dayinsure Wales Rally GB: Gill and MRF finish 12th; Ogier survives Latvala challenge for title

    Gaurav Gill and MRF Tyres had plenty to cheer after finishing 12th in RC2 at the Wales Rally GB. Photo: MRF Racing

    Llandudno, 7 October 2018: Gaurav Gill and MRF Tyres had reasons to feel satisfied after finishing 12th in the RC2 class in the Dayinsure Wales Rally GB, the 11th round of the FIA World Rally Championship which ended here on Sunday with Sébastien Ogier winning the title after a pulsating final leg.

    Gill and MRF who are focusing more on tyre development in preparation for a full WRC 2 season next year, maintained good pace, if opting to err on the side of caution in view of the treacherous conditions.

    Yet, Gill, partnered by Australian Glenn Macneall and driving the M-Sport prepared Ford Fiesta R5, was on anything but a leisurely Sunday drive as he progressed through the standings, moving from overall 15th to 14th to 12th over three consecutive Stages before holding position in SS-22. MRF did not run SS-23, the concluding test, following changes in the wake of a motorbike accident not related to the rally.

    “It is great to reach the end of the rally – it has been a challenging rally because of the slippery conditions and the changing weather,” Gill said. “Wales Rally GB is much different to Rally Finland and Rally Italy so it was a new experience for us and the team.”

    Gaurav Gill negotiating a treacherous section. Photo: MRF Racing

    The crews did not return to service on Sunday, rather relying on a tyre fitting zone, meaning that any damage would have to be repaired by the crews. For Gill and Macneall, they would not have to worry about this as they skilfully navigated their way through the stages.

    “Like the other days, today was tricky because of the narrow and slippery muddy stages,” Gill said. “We concentrated on getting through the stages and getting the data needed to develop our product.

    “It is a shame we didn’t get to do the second run on Great Orme Llandudno due to the injury of a bike rider and our thoughts are with him. However, it was great to be able to rally in front of the massive Welsh crowd.”

    Next up for Team MRF Tyres is Kennards Hire Rally Australia on more familiar roads. Joining Gill and Macneall in action on MRF Tyres will be the Australian Rally Championship, where MRF Tyres is the control tyre supplier.

    SEBASTIEN OGIER HANGS ON TO POUCH TITLE 

    Sebastien Ogier had every reason to smile after winning the Wales Rally GB. Photo: WRC

    Meanwhile, in the WRC battle, Jari-Matti Latvala snatched Ogier’s slender overnight lead before the Frenchman fought back to regain the initiative in the penultimate speed test and win the four-day gravel road encounter by 10.6sec in a Ford Fiesta.

    Latvala, driving a Toyota Yaris, finished 24.5sec ahead of team-mate and fellow-Finn Esapekka Lappi.

    In the battle for the FIA World Rally Championship, Thierry Neuville’s final day surge to fifth left him with a seven-point advantage (189-182) over Ogier with two rounds remaining.

    After narrowing Ogier’s overnight lead to 1.7sec with second fastest time in the opening Elsi speed test, Latvala threw caution to the wind in the following Gwydir special stage to move into a 3.6sec lead and claim maximum bonus points.

    Ogier fought back in the following asphalt Great Orme Llandudno test to claim fastest time and defeat the Finn by 3.4sec – reducing the Toyota Yaris pilot’s advantage to a tantalising 0.2sec with two stages remaining.

    The gravel forest roads were treacherously slippery after cold overnight temperatures and Latvala’s face at the finish of Gwydir revealed just how much of a roller coaster ride it was.

    “An extremely difficult stage. It was very, very low grip and on the asphalt there was a lot of mud. I went flat over a crest, the car was already sideways and I thought I was going to hit the impact, but luckily I got away with it. It was a big push,” he said.

    Ogier, who was third in both forest tests, admitted: “It was a difficult morning, the feeling wasn’t really great in the first two stages so I couldn’t push. The Toyota is very strong but we’re going to keep pushing until the end.”

    Lappi was fastest in Elsi and the Yaris driver watched the lead battle from a safe third place after Craig Breen’s hopes of a podium took a knock when the Irishman spun his Citroën C3 in Gwydir and dropped 10sec.

    Andreas Mikkelsen overhauled Mads Østberg to climb to fifth in his Hyundai i20, while team-mate Thierry Neuville’s scramble for vital championship points improved when he moved ahead of Hayden Paddon by a tenth of a second into seventh. He trails Østberg by 6.9sec.

    After yesterday’s problems Ott Tänak and Neuville were desperate for Power Stage points to boost their three-way championship battle with Ogier. Tänak fared best to claim four bonus points while Neuville took two, one fewer than Ogier.

  • WRC 2019: Sebastien Ogier to return to Citroen along with co-driver Julien Ingrassia

    WRC 2019: Sebastien Ogier to return to Citroen along with co-driver Julien Ingrassia

    Ogier and Ingrassia….FIA World Rally Championship 2018 – WRC Monte Carlo (FRA). PHOTO: @World

    Paris, 29 September 2018: World rally champion Sébastien Ogier, along with co-driver Julien Ingrassia, will return to Citroën Racing next season after signing a two-year deal with the French manufacturer. He returns to the Satory-based team, with whom he spent the early days of his WRC career, after a two-year spell with M-Sport Ford.

    Friday afternoon’s announcement was not a surprise after it became apparent in recent weeks that the 34-year-old Frenchman was edging towards Citroën rather than extending his stay with the British squad.

    Ogier made it clear last month he would agree one final WRC contract before ending his stay in a championship he has dominated in recent seasons, but there is no confirmation of how long his contact is.

    Five consecutive World titles with Volkswagen Motorsport and M-Sport Ford have made him the WRC’s second most successful driver behind former Citroën team-mate Sébastien Loeb.

    Ogier said a key factor behind his switch was the desire to win the Championship with a third team, something only Juha Kankkunen has achieved.

    “There were various factors that influenced my decision. I really like the idea of working again with people with whom things went pretty well a few years back and I’m also excited by the chance to try and pull off the challenge of becoming World champion with a third different manufacturer,” he explained.

    “And although I’m not taking anything for granted, I am convinced the car has definite potential and I have great faith in the people at Satory.

    “I’m really enthusiastic about the prospect of taking on this new challenge with Citroën. In fact, I can’t wait, especially as I haven’t forgotten that this is the team that first gave me the opportunity to compete in the World Championship.”

    Ogier won the junior World title with Citroën in 2008 before making his first appearance at the top level later that season.

    He drove for Citroën’s second-string in 2009 and 2010, claiming his first WRC win in Portugal. He was promoted to the top team in the second half of 2010, but left after the 2011 season following increasing tension between himself, Loeb and management regarding team orders.

    M-Sport team celebrating the Monte Carlo triumph. Photo: M-Sport

    Ogier joined M-Sport Ford in 2017 after Volkswagen stepped back from the WRC. The switch from the well-funded German squad to Malcolm’s Wilson privately-run team took many by surprise.

    “When we decided to join M-Sport two years ago, many considered it a risk. I considered it a challenge, and together we achieved something extraordinary,” he said.

    “Malcolm and his team have such a passion for rallying, and I would like to thank each and every one of them for what has been an incredible two years together.

    “It’s now time for another new challenge, but first we will focus on bringing this special partnership to a close in the best possible way. The championship is still extremely close and we’ll keep fighting to keep our chances alive and keep pushing until the very end.”

    Citroën team principal Pierre Budar made clear his desire to resign Ogier in a bid to rejuvenate the team’s flagging fortunes following the mid-season departure of Kris Meeke.

    “I’m obviously delighted to welcome Sébastien and Julien back into the fold. The fact they are joining us is an incredible boost for the whole team. Everyone is going to be even more motivated than ever.

    “We’re already pulling out all the stops to make sure our second stint working together adds to our great history in the sport and showcases the Citroën brand. We feel good!” he said.

    Having secured victories in Monte-Carlo, Mexico and Corsica this year, Sébastien and Julien are also in with a strong chance of defending their titles and the entire team will continue to work their hardest to ensure this successful partnership comes to a close on another high.

    M-Sport Ford Press Release adds:

    Team Principal, Malcolm Wilson OBE, said: “I would like to thank Sébastien and Julien for everything they have done for the team over the past two years. Their professionalism, attention to detail, determination and outright speed is something to be admired and we’re all very sorry to see them go.

    “I am immensely proud of everything we achieved together, and their time with the team is something that I think everyone will remember for a long time to come.

    “We wish them well with the next and final chapter of their careers, but there are still three events left to contest this year and the whole team will continue to give one hundred and ten percent in the defence of our championship titles.”

    Global Director of Ford Performance Motorsport, Mark Rushbrook, said: “All of us at Ford are sad to see Sébastien and Julien leave the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team at the end of the 2018 WRC season, but I would like to thank them personally for the great work they have done for us over the last two seasons with the team and to wish them both all the very best for the future.

    “We know we have a really strong package with the Ford Fiesta World Rally Car and all our efforts are focussed on the remaining three rallies as we try to replicate the success of 2017. We will work with our long term rally partners M-Sport on the 2019 driver line up and I am confident we will have a really strong package to continue to deliver the success that we aim for in all the motorsports activities we have around the World.”

  • Rally de Portugal: Thierry Neuville takes control, extends lead

    Rally de Portugal: Thierry Neuville takes control, extends lead

    Thierry Neuville….well placed to claim victory in Rally de Portugal. Photo: WRC

    Matosinhos, 19 May 2018: Thierry Neuville gave his World title hopes a major boost after doubling his lead in Saturday’s penultimate leg of the Vodafone Rally de Portugal. He starts Sunday’s short finale with a 39.8sec advantage in his Hyundai i20, and victory would propel him back to the head of the FIA World Rally Championship for the first time since February.

    Conditions were more benign than yesterday when rock-strewn dirt roads caused carnage among the frontrunners, and the Belgian focused on the double pass through the 37.60km Amarante speed test, the longest of this sixth round of the series.

    He protected his Michelin tyres through the two previous stages of the morning and afternoon loops, before attacking in Amarante. He distanced closest rival Elfyn Evans on both occasions to build a comfortable advantage.

    “I was comfortable in the car, especially in the long stage. I tried to make a difference in there and it worked twice. It’s not finished yet but it could be a great weekend,” said Neuville whose conservative mix of hard and soft compound tyres was ideal for the wet final test.

    Evans won two of the day’s six stages in his Ford Fiesta, one more than Neuville, and the Welshman looked increasingly secure in second as the day progressed. He struggled for confidence in both passes through Amarante, but had a 17.4sec margin over Dani Sordo.

    The Spaniard stiffened his i20’s set-up following the morning’s opening test but slipped back into the clutches of Teemu Suninen with a final stage spin. The margin between them narrowed to 4.7sec.

    The young Suninen had a stellar day in his Ford Fiesta, holding off fellow-Finn Esapekka Lappi in a furious fight. Both were on the limit throughout as they traded seconds in every stage and Lappi ended 11.1sec adrift in his Toyota Yaris.

    Mads Østberg was a distant sixth, the Norwegian conceding almost a minute after sliding onto a bank at a muddy corner. The Citroën C3 driver was almost 1min 40sec clear of team-mate Craig Breen.

    Breen endured a tough day opening the roads in the sandy conditions but gained a place following more disappointment for Kris Meeke in the French squad’s third C3. The Ulsterman slid wide on a fast left bend and his C3 rolled heavily down a bank and into trees. Both Meeke and co-driver Paul Nagle were unhurt.

    Pontus Tidemand took the WRC 2 lead and held eighth place, ahead of fellow support category drivers Lukasz Pieniazek and Stéphane Lefebvre.

    Five more stages covering 51.53km lie in wait on Sunday, including two passes through the classic Fafe test and its famous jump. The second pass forms the Power Stage with bonus points on offer to the fastest five drivers.

    Pontus Tidemand recovers to forge ahead

    Pontus Tidemand….grand recovery to lead WRC 2. Photo: WRC

    Tidemand recovered from a disappointing Friday to claim all six Stage victories on Saturday and move into the lead of the WRC 2 category. The Skoda Fabia R5 driver started the day 1m 44.6sec off the lead in fifth place after two a double puncture yesterday, but he combined blistering pace with bad luck befalling his rivals to move his way up the order. By lunch-time service, he was second, with 49.4sec to make up to Stéphane Lefebvre. Another three wins on the afternoon loop sealed his place at the top of the class at the end of the day.
    He was helped by a puncture for Lefebvre on SS14 and then brake and transmission problems cost the C3 R5 driver more than two minutes one stage later. The Frenchman finished the day in third.

    Overnight leader Gus Greensmith had a day to forget in his Ford Fiesta. On the opening Vieira do Minho test, he had a puncture which forced him to use his spare, and then another tyre de-beaded. With no more spares, he had to be cautious through the next two stages. Having slipped to sixth, he was quickly reclaiming the time he lost but had to retire with broken suspension on the road section before the second run of Amarante.

    Benefiting from his retirement was Lukasz Pieniazek in a Fabia R5, who kept his second place despite a puncture of his own on SS14. Fourth place went to Pierre-Louis Loubet. The Hyundai i20 R5 driver had a clean run through the tests to move to within 8.0sec of compatriot Lefebvre.

    Toyota development driver Hiroki Arai grew in confidence as the day went on, with top-five stage times allowing him to claim fifth place before the final stages on Sunday. Juuso Nordgren ended the day sixth in his Fabia, despite a puncture on SS14 slowing his progress.

    Pedro Heller dropped out of the top five after a challenging day of his own. After a puncture this morning, he retired with mechanical issues 6.4km into SS15. His team-mate Nil Solans also hit trouble on the final stage, retiring at the 24.1km mark.

    Finnish ŠKODA junior Juuso Nordgren was delayed by another two punctures and are sixth after the Saturday leg.

  • Rally de Portugal: Neuville makes profit amidst crashes and retirements

    Rally de Portugal: Neuville makes profit amidst crashes and retirements

    Thierry Neuville, who made most of the situation to take early lead on Friday. Photo: WRC

    Porto, 18 May 2018: Thierry Neuville led the Vodafone Rally de Portugal on Friday night after a chaotic opening leg destroyed the hopes of a host of front-runners. The lead changed hands on six occasions on rock-strewn dirt roads near the Spanish border before the Belgian took a 17.7sec advantage in his Hyundai i20 over Elfyn Evans. Dani Sordo was a further 6.6sec adrift in third.
    WRC leader Sébastien Ogier, previous round winner Ott Tänak, Toyota Yaris team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala and Hyundai duo Andreas Mikkelsen and Hayden Paddon were all sidelined as the gruelling roads took a heavy toll.

    Neuville’s gamble to select soft tyres for this afternoon’s second loop of three speed tests appeared to have backfired as temperatures rose and the tracks became rougher than expected. He held his nerve and jumped from sixth to first as bedlam broke out around him, retaining his advantage over two asphalt stages in the streets of central Porto.

    “Today was tough, but we managed to stay out of trouble. It was very rough and there were many, many surprises. So I tried to save the car a bit. It was a risky tyre choice which was maybe not great but we made it work,” he said.

    Evans held second in a Ford Fiesta until a spin dropped him down the order, but the Welshman vaulted from seventh to second in the twists and turns of the final dirt road stage.

    Sordo topped the leaderboard midway through the leg in his i20. Like team-mate Neuville, the Spaniard opted for soft tyres this afternoon, but regretted his decision and had to slow as they became worn.

    Teemu Suninen was fourth in another Fiesta, the Finn avoiding the carnage to trail Sordo by 10.1sec and head Esapekka Lappi in the sole-surviving Toyota Yaris by 11.4sec. Mid-leg set-up changes resolved Lappi’s traction problems.

    Mads Østberg was sixth in a Citroën C3, half-a-minute clear of team-mate Kris Meeke who twice led. Tyre troubles forced Meeke to drive the final Porto stages with just a wheel rim on the rear left of his car and he conceded a minute.

    Craig Breen plunged from third to eighth after stopping to change a puncture, while WRC 2 leader Gus Greensmith and Lukasz Pieniazek completed the leaderboard.

    End of road for Sebsatien Ogier. Photo: WRC

    Ogier was fourth until he broke a steering arm in his Ford Fiesta after hitting a tree root and he crashed at the next bend. Tänak hit a rock and damaged his engine’s cooling system, forcing him to retire from the rally. Toyota’s turmoil continued when Latvala hit a rock and broke his front right suspension.

    Paddon retired from the lead after a heavy impact damaged the front left of his i20 and blocked the stage. The Kiwi was taken to hospital for precautionary checks after complaining of back pain. Broken power steering and engine issues accounted for team-mate Mikkelsen.

    Saturday’s leg is the longest of the event, journeying east of the rally base in Matosinhos to demanding roads in the Cabreira Mountains. Three stages are driven morning and afternoon covering 154.64 Kms.

    Gus Greensmith takes early lead in WRC 2

    Gus Greensmith. Photo: WRC

    Greensmith profited when championship leader Pontus Tidemand (Skoda Fabia R5) suffered a puncture on the very first Stage. Driving a Ford Fiesta R5, Greensmith was battling for the lead with Citroën Racing’s Stéphane Lefebvre from the very start of the day as the pair took a stage win apiece. Tidemand recovered from a right-rear puncture early on Friday to claim a stage victory on the third test of the day, but his time loss on the opener dropped him to seventh after the morning loop.

    The leader going into mid-day service was Lefebvre, as an intercom failure for Greensmith before the 27.54 kms Ponte de Lima stage wiped out his early gains.

    In the afternoon, it was Skoda Motorsport’s Tidemand who was on the pace as he claimed a trio of wins – including a double on the Porto Street Stage – to recover some of the time he lost, ending Friday in fifth.

    Greensmith came out on top after Lefebvre was struck with a right-rear puncture on SS5 with the Brit claiming the category lead one stage later. He will start Saturday’s second leg with a lead of 34.3sec.

    Citroën C3 driver Lefebvre finished the day third, 0.5sec behind Lukasz Pieniazek who kept out of trouble to work his way onto the podium. Fourth was Pedro Heller, the Fiesta driver rewarded for a clean run through the day while others hit trouble.  Sixth was Nil Solans, who couldn’t match the pace of the front-runners, while Pierre-Louis Loubet ended the day’s eight stages seventh in his Hyundai i20 R5.

    Six crews retired from the leg, including Sweden category winner Takamoto Katsuta as well as Simone Tempestini and Max Vatanen – who are both making their first appearance of 2018. Also running into issues was Hyundai Racing’s Jari Huttunen who retired after a mechanical problem on SS6.

  • Meeke takes early Corsican lead: WRC

    Meeke takes early Corsican lead: WRC

    Kris Meeke of Citroen leads the WRC round on Friday. An FIA image

    Britain’s Kris Meeke has powered into the lead of Rallye de France-Tour de Corse after the opening loop of two stages on the Mediterranean island. The Citroën driver heads reigning FIA World Rally Champion Sébastien Ogier by 8.9 seconds, who in turn has a similar advantage over third-placed Thierry Neuville.

    The route for this year’s event remains reminiscent of the Tour de Corse of old and takes in narrow and relentlessly twisty mountain roads across most of the island. From the northerly rally base in Bastia, the crews headed southwest to Ajaccio yesterday afternoon for the start ceremony and overnight halt, before contesting this morning’s two stages around the coastal capital city.

    Meeke was immediately on the pace in the C3 WRC and took an early lead of nearly six seconds after the opening 31.20 kilometre stage, despite suffering a nose bleed on the start line. He went on to extend his advantage in the second test to arrive at the regroup in Porticcio with a useful lead. Ogier, who took a debut win on the island last year, lost time in the bumpy sections of the first stage but after some set-up changes was happy with his morning. Neuville suffered some understeer and struggled to find a comfortable rhythm, and the Belgian – who has been hotly tipped to win in Corsica – knows he can push the i20 WRC Coupe harder.

    Ott Tänak is fourth, just 4.3 seconds adrift, but hasn’t been entirely happy with the balance of the Fiesta, and similarly Dani Sordo lacked some confidence; he is a further 5.2 seconds behind. Craig Breen has adopted a completely new driving style on asphalt, realising he has scope for improvement on this surface. Jari-Matti Latvala, on his 170th world rally, is seventh and also easing himself into the groove on the first Tarmac event of the season. Behind the Finn, Hayden Paddon has little experience on this surface and admits to needing to improve and he sits ahead of Stéphane Lefebvre in ninth. Juho Hänninen was the first victim of the day, and also no mid-leg service; the Finn hit a bridge in the first stage, damaging the suspension and a wheel and he was forced to retire. Elfyn Evans dropped down the leaderboard with hydraulic problems, losing over two minutes.

    Tenth overall is held by Andreas Mikkelsen who also leads the FIA WRC 2 Championship in the Škoda Fabia R5. He won both of the morning stages and is 5.8 seconds ahead of Eric Camilli.  The FIA WRC 3 Championship is being led by Raphaël Astier, who won this two-wheel drive series in Monte-Carlo and, within that category, Nils Solans is heading the Junior WRC Championship drivers.

    The crews now head back out to the same two stages before returning to Bastia for final service this evening.
    eom/FIA press release

  • Meeke, Nagle win Rally Mexico; third winner in three rounds

    Kris Meeke and Paul Nagle took a dramatic first win of the season at Rally Mexico, bringing a third different winning crew, and manufacturer, to the 2017 FIA World Rally Championship in as many events.

    However, after a faultless rally, in which they led for all but the two Mexico City stages, it was far from a relaxing ride to the finish. The Citroën C3 WRC pairing went into the closing live TV Power Stage with what looked like an unassailable 37.2 second advantage but, with the finish line in sight, incredibly the pair went off the road. Losing precious time trying to get back on to the stage from a parking area, they astonishingly reached the finish line 13.8 seconds ahead of their rivals in one of the most dramatic finishes in recent times.

    “I got caught out on a bump after the jump,” said a shell-shocked Meeke. “I’m a lucky, lucky boy. That’s certainly one way to finish a rally!”

    The Mexico win marks Meeke and Nagle’s fourth WRC victory, but it was an important first win for the new Citroën C3 WRC which showed so much pre-season promise and had yet to truly deliver. In Meeke’s hands this weekend, however, the multiple Championship-winning Citroën team proved it is back in the fight.

    Second position was taken by the M-Sport crew of Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia. The French duo were happy to maintain position for the sake of solid Championship points and their result sees them back at the top of the Drivers’ standings three events into the season. Thierry Neuville and Nicolas Gilsoul finally got some decent points on the board for third overall and the Belgian duo also picked up an additional five points for winning the Power Stage.

    Ott Tänak finished just off the podium in fourth for the first time this season and Hayden Paddon was fifth. After their overheating problems on Friday, Toyota as good as achieved its pre-event expectations with Jari-Matti Latvala in sixth, his team-mate Juho Hänninen seventh after battling against illness all weekend. Misfire problems dropped Dani Sordo down the order on Friday night, but the Spaniard reached the finish in eighth. Elfyn Evans was ninth, his event compromised from the outset when he picked up a five minute penalty for a pre-start engine change.

    The fight in the FIA WRC 2 Championship was intense between Pontus Tidemand and Eric Camilli. The Swede went into the day with two seconds in hand to the Frenchman, but two stage wins assured Tidemand and co-driver Jonas Andersson a second consecutive category win.

    In the FIA World Rally Championship, Ogier has an eight point advantage over Latvala with Tänak third a further 10 points adrift. In the Manufacturers’ Championship, M-Sport’s haul of podium places over the first three events sees it head the standings by 36 points over newcomers Toyota GAZOO Racing. Hyundai Motorsport is however only two points behind the Japanese manufacturer.

    The FIA World Rally Championship contenders now return to Europe for the first pure asphalt rally of the season, Rallye de France Tour de Corse (6-9 April).

    Rally Mexico – Official Final Classification (subject to further checks to be carried out by the FIA on the gearbox of car No. 1, Ogier/Ingrassia)

    1.   Kris Meeke / Paul Nagle Citroën C3 WRC 3hr 22min 04.6sec
    2.   Sébastien Ogier / Julien Ingrassia Ford Fiesta WRC 3hr 22min 18.4sec
    3.   Thierry Neuville / Nicolas Gilsoul Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 3hr 23min 04.3sec
    4.   Ott Tänak / Martin Järveoja Ford Fiesta WRC 3hr 24min 22.9sec
    5.   Hayden Paddon / John Kennard Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 3hr 25min 37.5sec
    6.   Jari-Matti Latvala / Miikka Anttila Toyota Yaris WRC 3hr 26min 44.9sec
    7.   Juho Hänninen / Kaj Lindström Toyota Yaris WRC 3hr 27min 10.8sec
    8.   Dani Sordo / Marc Martí Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 3hr 27min 27.3sec
    9.   Eflyn Evans / Daniel Barritt Ford Fiesta WRC 3hr 30min 46.4sec
    10. Pontus Tidemand / Jonas Andersson Škoda Fabia R5 3hr 32min 56.5sec

    eom/FIA press release

  • The car is big and it is an awesome feeling: Craig Breen, on his switch to C3

    The car is big and it is an awesome feeling: Craig Breen, on his switch to C3

    Present:
    Craig Breen, Citroën Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team
    Thierry Neuville, Hyundai Motorsport
    Ott Tänak, M-Sport World Rally Team
    Juho Hänninen, Toyota GAZOO Racing World Rally Team

    Q:
    Craig, great start to the season for you in the older DS3 but now you switch to the C3 – will expectations be high?
    CB:
    Now I get to try the big car and it’s an awesome feeling, the car is fantastic to drive. It’s starting a new chapter in my career.

    Q:
    You are the driver with the most experience here in Sweden out of the team. Were you aware of that? Does that add more pressure?
    CB:
    It is actually something we only figured out last night. It’s the rally where I have the most experience and that in theory should mean I should do something special, but at the same time it’s a big step up. Now I just want to get started.

    Q:
    This is a moment you have been waiting for for quite a while, does that make you nervous or are you calm about it?
    CB:
    I’ve waited all my life for a chance like this so of course I’m a bit nervous, but whenever the nerves kick in I think how a chance like this is so rare and there’s no point letting the stress get to me but that I might just as well enjoy it.

    Q:
    Your pace in Monte-Carlo was something special; can you replicate that pace here on snow?
    TN:
    The pace in Monte-Carlo somewhat surprised me, but everything came together in a good way and made me feel confident and comfortable. The opening of the season is always special.

    Q:
    Thierry, how has the new Hyundai been performing on snow in testing? How many kilometres have you covered on this surface?
    TN:
    For sure it’s been better than before Monte-Carlo. I’m really happy and have been able to do two full days in good snow conditions. The conditions this year look so much better than last year.

    Q:
    You mentioned yesterday that you feel that the pace at the top will be closer here in Sweden than in Monte-Carlo. Why is that?
    TN:
    In Monte-Carlo the guy with the most confidence is leading the rally, but here I think we’re going to see more of the real speed from the teams. I expect a much tougher and more difficult fight.

    Q:
    So who do you think will win?
    TN:
    It’s a tough question, we saw some surprises in Monte-Carlo, but I think we will have a more regular race this weekend. Ogier will be strong and some other guys too and we will try to keep pace with all of them. There’s going to be a few of us fighting it out.

    Q:
    Ott, you had a great start to the season in Monte-Carlo. Does that bring you confidence coming here to Sweden?
    OT:
    Obviously Monte-Carlo was a good event for us and now we’re here with some good points and it feels nice to start like this.

    Q:
    The route has been altered this year, what are your thoughts on the stages? What could we see being the toughest aspect of this event this year?
    OT:
    It looks quite nice, it’s a lot better than last year and from the outset it looks good. Obviously we miss some snowbanks but it looks very nice out in the forests.

    Q:
    So without those snowbanks you have to be more precise out there?
    OT:
    Well, it’s like a normal gravel rally [without the snow banks] and I think in the end it’s still the same

    Q:
    What’s the aim here for you? Are you targeting the top step of the podium?
    OT:
    This is one of my favourite rallies and especially this year with some really fast and smooth stages. Normally I feel confident here and now I just want to enjoy it.

    Q:
    Toyota achieved a podium in Monte-Carlo with Jari-Matti but it was you who opened up the event with strong pace Juho. Were you surprised at the pace or did you know the car would be on par?
    JH:
    I knew that the car was good and I was confident with it, but at the same time, yes, it was a surprise since we didn’t have any idea where we stood compared to the other cars. So it was a big thing for the entire team, having put in so much work and getting results straight away.

    Q:
    How much testing have you done on snow? Are you happy with the setup? What areas still need more work?
    JH:
    I did three days last week in Finland. The conditions were a little bit different than here but the set-up of the car is not all that far from the gravel set-up which I did quite a bit of testing with last year. I’m really happy with the car.

    Q:
    What areas of the car would you say still need development work on them?
    JH:
    We’ve been quite lucky from the start of the project with the car. There are no weak areas or points, so it’s more a case where all areas can be improved a bit but it’s getting more and more close to finished. But at the same time it’s only the second rally for us so we just need to stay calm.

    Q:
    How quick do you think you will be here?
    JH:
    I honestly have no idea. It’s been three years since I last competed here so it’s difficult to say. The main thing is to relax and the results will come.

    Q:
    Is it a different atmosphere now in the team after Monte-Carlo? Is it more relaxed?
    JH:
    It’s difficult to be more relaxed, but the feeling is we have something unique and I’m very happy with the team.
    FIA WRC 2 CHAMPIONSHIP

    Present:
    Pontus Tidemand, Skoda Motorsport
    Emil Bergkvist
    Teemu Suninen, M-Sport World Rally Team

    Q:
    Pontus, how are you feeling ahead of this year’s event? We’ve seen some success from you in the past here, what’s the objective this time around?
    PT:
    I feel very good for this event. For me it’s the highlight all year round and I really enjoy this road and the surface. I’ve had good preparations and the car is very good but for sure it’s a very hard competition in this class. For sure it will be a good fight but I’m ready for it and I’m really looking forward to the start tonight.

    Q:
    You’re talking about good preparations, how much in terms of testing have you been able to do?
    PT:
    Two days of test, last weekend and this weekend also, so for me the team has done very good preparations as always so they’ve done their work from last year so I think we have the best chance to, yeah, take this rally. But for sure we need to stay focused, that’s the key point.

    Q:
    You mentioned that there is strong competition in WRC 2, and it certainly is at this event. How much are you willing to risk out there Pontus, to get maximum points?
    PT:
    It’s hard to say. It’s a long championship and in this rally there are many drivers that can do really well, lots of Norwegian drivers and some more. We just need to start and see where we are and I think it’s important to be on the spot from the beginning and avoid any mistakes. Thirty seconds in one snow bank I think can be the difference between, maybe a podium place here so it’s the main thing I think.

    Q:
    I’m guessing this season is very important for you, aiming for the WRC 2 Championship title?
    PT:
    Yes, that’s the main target this year so me and the team will give 100 percent for this. That’s what we’re working hard for every day.

    Q:
    What do you feel that you’ve learned from last year?
    PT:
    Obviously you learn and get better on everything, but for sure you need to finish the rallies. That’s very important if you’re going to have a chance to take the title in WRC 2. If you have two-three results out of the normal points obviously it’s very tough so that’s what you learn.

    Q:
    Pontus is obviously confident, how about yourself, how are you feeling ahead of the rally Emil?
    EB:
    We have quite a good feeling. It’s my third time here so, yeah, it feels great actually. We had a good test as well, which is important, but like Pontus said, there are a lot of fast drivers here and it’s important to be on it from the beginning on the stages in Norway. But we will try.

    Q:
    Now we do see changes to the route here in Rally Sweden this year. What are your thoughts on the new stages we’ve seen, the new sections?
    EB:
    On the recce it looked quite okay actually. This stage, Knon, is a quite fast stage I would say and the organisation has done a really good job to put everything together for us, and yeah, I think a lot of drivers are happy to get out on the stages.

    Q:
    Being your home event, would you say this is your best opportunity, your best advantage here for you to get maximum points?
    EB:
    Yeah, I think so. Okay, we did some WRC 2 events last year but we had some struggles in many ways. But I feel well prepared for this rally and I think this our biggest chance to get a great result.

    Q:
    Is this going to be a full season in WRC 2 this year?
    EB:
    Not at the moment, but if we do a good result here I think it can help us. If we can do some more rallies it would be great.

    Q:
    So at the moment, this is the only event you’ll be competing in?
    EB:
    No, also France, Portugal and Germany.

    Q:
    From a sponsorship point, getting a good result here would obviously help those sponsors to maybe give you more funding to help you get more events?
    EB:
    Yeah, I hope so. If you show that you can be among the fast guys, it’s helpful.

    Q:
    The Swedes are on form. Are you confident as well Teemu?
    TS:
    Yeah, quite confident. Of course we have a new car and have done testing, and I’m really happy for the car, but as always when something is new it means new challenges.

    Q:
    How many kilometers testing have you done?
    TS:
    200.

    Q:
    Do you feel that was enough for you to adapt to the new car?
    TS:
    Yeah, that’s enough.

    Q:
    What’s your opinion of the stages? You were successful here last year, do you feel that the stages are going to favour you this year?
    TS:
    I think so. This year the stages are in good condition, good ice on the ground, so I think it will be faster than last year.

    Q:
    So, you’re aiming for the top spot on the podium?
    TS:
    I’m aiming for a better result than last year.

    Q:
    Well you were second here last year so that will be the top of the podium you’re aiming for then. What about the season ahead, I know you’re doing a lot of WRC 2 events in Europe, but there is a possibility of seeing you in a WRC car as well this year. What’s happening with that?
    TS:
    I think we will get the new WRC car for Poland and Finland. I’ll try to learn and get a good result from here to be able to be fast in the WRC car.

    Q:
    So how much are you thinking about the WRC 2 season, Teemu, how focused are you on that knowing that you’re actually going to get into a WRC car?
    TS:
    Both of them are really important. I’ll try to do my best here and then move my focus in two rallies, then back to WRC 2.

    eom/FIA press release

    WRC file photo courtesy FIA. 9 Feb 2017