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Rally Engeland 2008 04 t/m 07
december 2008
07-12-2008 de einduitslag na dag 3:
Latvala second for Ford in Britain as Hirvonen
creates history
BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team drivers Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka
Anttila finished second on Wales Rally GB today after a titanic final
day battle. The Finns led for most of this 15th and final round of the
FIA World Rally Championship in their Focus RS World Rally Car. However,
their slender lead disappeared during a thrilling final loop of
competition that ended with just 12.7sec splitting Ford's rising young
star and established master Sébastien Loeb.
Team-mates Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen finished eighth in their
Focus RS WRC and created a slice of history. The single point ensured
they became the first drivers ever to score points on every round of the
championship. This remarkable achievement added to Ford's
record-breaking season. The Blue Oval became the first manufacturer in
history to score points on 100 consecutive rounds in Turkey in July and
Latvala became the youngest driver to win a WRC round in Sweden in
February.
Treacherous conditions in the forests of mid and south Wales made this
one of the hardest rallies of the season. Ice and snow forced organisers
to cancel much of Friday's opening leg and wintery conditions continued
to provide a stern challenge throughout the weekend. The scheduled
348.99km route was reduced to 275.01km as two of the 19 speed tests were
cancelled and four others shortened.
Hirvonen spent most of the weekend recovering from a near-four minute
time loss after rolling his Focus RS WRC on Friday. The 28-year-old,
already assured of second in the championship before the start, climbed
back into a points position this morning to seal his place in the record
books.
"There was more ice than yesterday and when the sun came up it polished
the surface. I had two or three close escapes but that's acceptable in
these unpredictable conditions. I want to thank the whole team for
helping me to second in the championship. I've had no major mechanical
problems this season thanks to such a reliable car and the team has done
a fantastic job. To claim this scoring record is a great achievement and
I want to move into next year and challenge for the title again. I feel
stronger after this season and more ready to fight for the world title
again," said Hirvonen.
BP Ford Abu Dhabi team director Malcolm Wilson said: "It was an
incredible performance by Jari-Matti against a five-time world champion.
He was under severe pressure and he's made a big step in his career path
with a performance that is good for his confidence. Mikko recovered well
and has enjoyed a fantastic year. It's a great achievement to score
points on every rally."
Ford of Europe motorsport director Mark Deans added: "We're disappointed
not to win a third consecutive manufacturers' title after taking the
battle down to the final round. But the Focus RS WRC proved its ability
once more here with five cars in the top 10, and we look forward to
renewing our challenge for title again in 2009."
News from our Rivals
Victory for Sébastien Loeb (Citroen), his 11th of the season, and third
for team-mate Dani Sordo gave the French squad the manufacturers' title.
Petter Solberg (Subaru) claimed fourth while fifth for Per-Gunnar
Andersson (Suzuki) equalled his team's best result. Stobart driver
François Duval (Ford) claimed sixth after team-mate Henning Solberg
retired with broken suspension in the penultimate test.
Final positions
1. S Loeb/D Elena FRA Citroen C4 2hr 43min 09.6sec
2. J-M Latvala/M Anttila FIN Ford Focus RS 2hr 43min 22.3sec
3. D Sordo/M Marti ESP Citroen C4 2hr 44min 30.2sec
4. P Solberg/P Mills NOR Subaru Impreza 2hr 45min 09.2sec
5. P-G Andersson/J Andersson SWE Suzuki SX4 2hr 47min 13.7sec
6. F Duval/D Giraudet BEL Ford Focus RS 2hr 48min 17.4sec
7. T Gardemeister/T Tuominen FIN Suzuki SX4 2hr 48min 34.6sec
8. M Hirvonen/J Lehtinen FIN Ford Focus RS 2hr 48min 48.4sec
9. M Wilson/S Martin GBR Ford Focus RS 2hr 51min 23.5sec
10 B Clark/P Nagle GBR Ford Focus RS 2hr 53min 02.7sec
Drivers
1. S Loeb - 122pts
2. M Hirvonen - 103pts
3. D Sordo - 65pts
4. J-M Latvala - 58pts
5. C Atkinson - 50pts
6. P Solberg - 46pts
Manufacturers
1. Citroen Total - 191pts
2. BP Ford Abu Dhabi - 173pts
3. Subaru - 98pts
4. Stobart VK M-Sport Ford - 67pts
5. Suzuki - 34pts
6. Munchi's Ford - 22pts
* Championship positions subject to the official publication of the
results by the FIA
Bron: M-Sport
07-12-2008 uitslag na dag 2 - Latvala warms to icy challenge to retain
lead in Rally GB,
BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team drivers Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka
Anttila continue to lead Wales Rally GB after a second day of fighting
ice-bound forest tracks. The Finns won two speed tests in the slippery
forests of south Wales to overnight with a 7.3sec lead in their Ford
Focus RS World Rally Car in this 15th and final round of the FIA World
Rally Championship. Team-mates Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen
recovered from yesterday's roll to climb to ninth in another Focus RS.
The treacherous conditions further north that decimated yesterday's
schedule eased today. Glorious blue skies encouraged huge crowds,
although ice was a constant danger after more freezing temperatures
overnight. Drivers tackled two identical loops of three special stages
before a spectacular final test inside Cardiff's Millennium Stadium in
front of an estimated 25,000 fans.
Latvala was first in the start order and the icy roads of the 30.68km
Resolfen test offered a tough challenge as the Finn cut through the
frozen gravel to leave better grip for those behind. His overnight
12.9sec lead was cut to just 0.8sec, but Latvala posted fastest time in
the following stage and his advantage stood at 8.9sec as drivers
returned to Swansea for the midday service. A brush with a barrier at a
bridge on an icy section this afternoon resulted in his lead dropping to
2.4sec, but a second fastest time on the final forest stage restored a
more comfortable margin.
However, 23-year-old Latvala endured more dramas on the liaison section
to the Cardiff stage. "The traffic was very heavy in the centre of the
city and we had to keep stopping and starting, using the clutch a lot.
It began to smoke and I was worried that if I carried on driving it
would be destroyed. So we pushed the car for 400 metres to the time
control. It was very stressful," he said. He struggled to leave the line
in the stadium stage and dropped more than three seconds.
"I had no chance in the conditions on the first stage this morning
because the road was very frosty. The surface was rock hard and every
time I hit the throttle the wheels were spinning, so I eased off. Before
bends I steered the car towards the side of the road, away from the ice,
to brake in the gravel where there was more grip. I'm being pressured by
those behind but I really want to win here for the team. However, we've
had two tricky days and tomorrow will be just as hard," said Latvala.
Team-mate Hirvonen restarted in 29th and top three times on all three
morning stages promoted him to 13th. Fastest time on the long Resolfen
stage this afternoon maintained the momentum and lifted him back into a
manufacturers' points-scoring position.
"I'm trying to climb as high as I can but the aim is also to stay on the
road so I'm not taking risks. There was a lot of ice this morning and it
was hard to find a good rhythm. The cars ahead of me polished the ice
and it was hard to tell where there was grip and where there wasn't,"
explained 27-year-old Hirvonen.
"This afternoon was better with less ice, but the tricky part was
knowing where it was. I think we all had plenty of luck in avoiding
crashing because the ice was so patchy that I just didn't know if I was
going to go off the road. I will keep pushing hard tomorrow and try to
climb as high up the order as I can," added Hirvonen.
Abu Dhabi's Khalid Al Qassimi and Michael Orr climbed from 21st to 16th
in the team's third Focus RS WRC. "Everywhere was icy and I couldn't
drive on it comfortably," said Al Qassimi. "I have no experience on this
type of surface and I'm struggling to build confidence. That said, I'm
still in the rally and I'm in front of some far more experienced drivers
than me. If I can keep that going and finish in the top 16, I will be
happy," he added.
BP Ford Abu Dhabi team director Malcolm Wilson reflected on a strong
performance from both drivers. "Jari-Matti has been confident, despite
the pressure of Loeb breathing down his neck. It was difficult for him
to be first on the road and it will be difficult again tomorrow. Mikko
knows how important a third manufacturers' title would be for us and his
enthusiasm to battle back shows how committed he is to the team.
Temperatures are forecast to drop to -6ºC tonight so the roads will
again be treacherous tomorrow," he said.
News from our Rivals
Sébastien Loeb (Citroen) won two tests as he maintained second place
while team-mate Dani Sordo, boosted by two stage wins this morning,
completes the top three. Petter Solberg (Subaru) moved ahead of
Per-Gunnar Andersson (Suzuki) to hold fourth, with Stobart driver
Henning Solberg rounding off the top six. Mads Ostberg (Subaru) looked
set to hold onto fifth but the young Norwegian slid into a ditch on the
penultimate stage and retired. The day's other major retirement was
junior world champion Sébastien Ogier, making his debut at the top level,
who rolled into retirement on the opening stage after leading for much
of yesterday.
Tomorrow’s Route
The final leg is the shortest of the rally with just 96.10km of
competition split between two identical loops of two stages in the Vale
of Neath. After leaving Swansea at 07.00, drivers return there for
service after the opening loop and then journey to Cardiff for the
finish ceremony at 14.56.
Leaderboard after Day 2
1. J-M Latvala/M AnttilaFIN Ford Focus RS 1hr 47min 52.4sec
2. S Loeb/D ElenaFRA Citroen C4 1hr 47min 59.7sec
3. D Sordo/M MartiESP Citroen C4 1hr 48min 20.3sec
4. P Solberg/P Mills NOR Subaru Impreza 1hr 48min 44.9sec
5. P-G Andersson/J Andersson SWESuzuki SX4 1hr 49min 58.5sec
6. H Solberg/C MenkerudNOR Ford Focus RS 1hr 50min 01.7sec
7. F Duval/D Giraudet BELFord Focus RS 1hr 50min 22.0sec
8. T Gardemeister/T Tuominen FINSuzuki SX4 1hr 51min 25.4sec
9. M Hirvonen/J LehtinenFIN Ford Focus RS 1hr 52min 36.9sec
10 M Wilson/S MartinGBR Ford Focus RS 1hr 52min 41.9sec
Bron: M-Sport
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hier voor het filmpje van deze crash.
06-12-2008 uitslag na dag 1 - Hirvonen in troubles at first day of Welsh
winter wonderland:
Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila overcame savage weather conditions
to lead Wales Rally GB following today's opening leg. The BP Ford Abu
Dhabi World Rally Team pair leads this 15th and final round of the FIA
World Rally Championship by 12.9sec in their Focus RS World Rally Car
after wintry weather decimated the schedule. Team-mates and fellow Finns
Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen are 29th in another Focus RS WRC after
crashing this afternoon.
Following last night's start ceremony next to Cardiff's festive winter
wonderland show, competitors discovered winter wasn't quite so wonderful
when they entered the remote forests more than 150km north. Snow and ice
covered the gravel tracks in many places and organisers last night
cancelled more than half today's scheduled 123.68km of competition on
safety grounds. More freezing temperatures overnight brought the
cancellation of both passes of the already shortened Hafren speed test
due to ice.
So the day was reduced to two identical loops of two special stages near
Aberystwyth in mid-Wales, before two passes in darkness over a short
spectator-friendly test further south. Just 49.70km remained but the
weather continued to do its utmost to disrupt proceedings. Ice lurked in
exposed areas and the early morning sunshine was replaced by hail. This
afternoon lightning preceded torrential rain and few drivers were
unhappy to see the back of such treacherous conditions.
Hirvonen completed the opening loop in 11th after a cautious start but
rolled in the Sweet Lamb test, losing almost four minutes and dropping
to 46th. He recovered to 29th, despite being unable to use full power
from his car's engine as mud blocked the radiator after his accident.
"I drove through the famous watersplash near the end of the stage and I
knew it would throw the car sideways, but it threw me further than I
expected. The car hit a bank and rolled onto its roof. The spectators
weren't allowed to help us push the car back onto its wheels and it took
us nearly four minutes to get going again," explained 28-year-old
Hirvonen.
"Conditions were difficult but maybe I was too steady this morning.
While I needed to be cautious, I didn't need to be that cautious. I
could see the lines on the road from Sébastien Loeb ahead of me so I
followed those and obtained more grip, but it was hard to stop on the
ice with gravel tyres. It would have been too dangerous to run the
cancelled stages because the grip was changing all the time - from
gravel to ice to snow," added Hirvonen.
News from our Rivals
Making the best of the improved conditions further down the start order
were inexperienced youngsters Sébastien Ogier (Citroen) and Mads Ostberg
(Subaru). This year's junior world champion Ogier, making his debut in a
WRC car, led until the second pass through Myherin when he stopped
briefly with a gearbox problem and slipped to eighth. Ostberg held
second until he spun in the same test and ended the day in fourth.
Sébastien Loeb (Citroen) won two stages to climb to second, ahead of
Per-Gunnar Andersson (Suzuki). Behind Ostberg, Petter Solberg (Subaru)
and Dani Sordo (Citroen) rounded off the top six. Stobart driver
François Duval (Ford) lost 20sec after spinning on stage six, but the
Belgian holds seventh, while team-mate Henning Solberg (Ford) had
differential problems this morning and is ninth. The only major
retirement was Chris Atkinson (Subaru) who crashed on the penultimate
test and his car briefly caught fire.
Tomorrow's Route
The second day covers familiar territory. Drivers face two identical
loops of three forest tests before the traditional Saturday evening
stage over a slightly modified route inside Cardiff's Millennium
Stadium. Each loop begins with the classic Resolfen test near Swansea
before two more stages further north, near Brecon. After a 07.15 restart,
drivers face 129.21km of competition before returning to Swansea for the
final overnight halt at 20.18.
Leaderboard after Day 1
1. J-M Latvala/M Anttila FIN Ford Focus RS 31min 20.5sec
2. S Loeb/D Elena FRA Citroen C4 31min 33.4sec
3. P-G Andersson/J Andersson SWE Suzuki SX4 31min 43.0sec
4. M Østberg/O Unnerud NOR Subaru Impreza 31min 44.5sec
5. P Solberg/P Mills NOR Subaru Impreza 31min 47.9sec
6. D Sordo/M Marti ESP Citroen C4 31min 52.7sec
7. F Duval/D Giraudet BEL Ford Focus RS 32min 12.5sec
8. S Ogier/J Ingrassia FRA Citroen C4 32min 15.3sec
9. H Solberg/C Menkerud NOR Ford Focus RS 32min 25.2sec
10 M Wilson/S Martin GBR Ford Focus RS 32min 53.5sec
Bron: M-Sport
04-12-2008 Hirvonen
fastest at Wales Rally GB Shakedown:
BP Ford Abu Dhabi Team driver Mikko Hirvonen
posted the fastest time at today’s pre-event Shakedown in Swansea.
The Finn, who won the rally in 2007, made three passes of the 3.9km
stage in Penllergaer Forest, recording a best time of 2m25.6s - nine
tenths of a second quicker than Subaru World Rally Team driver Petter
Solberg who was his closest rival.
“The car felt okay from the start so we didn’t feel the need to change
much,” said Hirvonen. “We’re using pretty much the set up we had in
Japan but it felt really good here.”
Located just 18km from the service park in Swansea, conditions on the
Shakedown road today were damp but frost free - in sharp contrast to the
wintry conditions seen on the recce - especially on Friday’s stages in
mid-Wales.
Foto: Focusmania.com
“The first year we drove this Shakedown road the surface was a bit too
soft but now it’s okay and it’s actually quite representative of a
typical Welsh stage,” said Hirvonen. “But after the snow and ice on the
recce I don’t really know what we can expect on Friday - it could be
very different to today.”
Other notable performances came from J-WRC champion, Sebastien Ogier,
who was 10th in his Citroen C4, and MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi who
set the 17th fastest time in a Ford Focus RS WRC.
Here are the best times from each of the WRC drivers:
1. Hirvonen 2:25.6
2. P. Solberg: 2.26.5
3. Loeb: 2:27.0
4. Sordo 2:27.2
5. Latvala 2:28.1
6. Duval: 2:29.0
7. Atkinson: 2:29.2
8. Wilson: 2:30.2
9. Andersson: 2:30.4
10. Ogier: 2:30.6
11. Gardemeister: 2:31.7
12. Ostberg: 2:32.2
13. H. Solberg: 2:33.8
14. Clark: 2:34.6
15. Al Qassimi: 2:36.8
16. Rautenbach: 2:37.4
17. Rossi: 2:41.7
18. Jones: 2:45.2
19. Weston: 2:46.0
20. Perez: 2:47.5
21. Boland: 2:53.9
Bron: wrc.com
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