Friday quotes and notes from Friday final stage in Sweden 12.02.2016: WRC Rallyes - Sweden Rally Friday, February 12th, 2016

WRC Rallyes - Sweden Rally
Friday, February 12th, 2016

 

 

Fri 16:35 - Sweden WRC 2 after day 1

(SS9): 1.Evans 1h06m23.1s, 2.Ahlin 17.1s, 3.Grondal 38.0s, 4.Tidemand 42.5s, 5.Bergkvist 1m01.1s

 

 

Fri 16:31 - SS9: Aasen

 

The end of a strong first day in his DMACK prize drive Fiesta R5. "I'm trusting the car more as the day goes on."

 

 

Fri 16:29 - SS9: WRC 2 Shaymiev

 

Broken power steering.

 

 

 

Fri 16:28 - SS9: WRC 2 Veiby

 

"We are really happy with the progress we have made today. It's hard to adapt to a new car of course. It's going according to the plan."

 

 

Fri 16:27 - SS9: WRC 2 Ahlin

 

"A very difficult day but I'm proud with how we have handled it."

 

 

Fri 16:27 - SS9: WRC 2 Grondal

 

18.9sec slower than Tidemand. "We had a spin in the last corner, that lost us six or seven seconds. A bit annoying - a silly mistake."

 

 

Fri 16:23 - SS9: WRC 2 Brynildsen

 

"It's been character building! I tried not to lose too much time with the driveshaft. I can be happy with my driving and apart from the driveshaft the car has run perfectly."

 

 

 Fri 16:22 - SS9: WRC 2 Tidemand

 

Quickest on stage so far, six-tenths up on Lappi. "I'm happy. Okay, some problems with the driveshaft but all is working well here. I don't know what the gap is now but for sure we will try.

 

 

Fri 16:20 - SS9: WRC 2 Lappi

 

Six-tenths quicker than Evans on stage, but almost two minutes adrift in the standings. "We are still here. We have never been here [on this rally] before. A small mistake but thanks to the spectators who helped us out. I'm still quite happy with my day."

 

 

 Fri 16:14 - SS9: WRC 2 Tempestini

 

"A difficult day but we are happy to be here. We will work on our set-up in service."

 

 

Fri 16:13 - SS9: WRC 2 Ptaszek

 

"Not such a bad day, some small problem here with a lack of power but we've enjoyed it."

 

 

Fri 16:12 - SS9: WRC 2 Evans

 

"I didn't have a great run in here, the grip was changeable, but I'm definitely happy with my day. There are some big expectations after Monte and I'm keen to show it was no fluke."

 

 

Fri 16:10 - Sweden after day 1

 

(SS9) - 1.Ogier 1h03m10.6s, 2.Paddon +26.9s, 3.Ostberg +33.7s, 4.Tanak +34.8s, 5.Sordo +38.2s Latvala stops

 

 

 Fri 16:09 - SS9: Al Rajhi

 

"We try to push a little bit in the faster sections. Now we try to push to a higher level."

 

 

Fri 16:08 - SS9: H. Solberg

 

He completes 22sec off the pace and extremely animated. "The engine stopped! I lost a minute, maybe more. After that I drove like crazy!"

 

 

Fri 16:06 - SS9: Breen

 

He completes with the right-rear tyre off the rim. "We had a spin just before the end. Something didn't feel right at the rear. Anyway, a very positive day. For the times to come so soon I'm very pleased."

 

 

 Fri 16:03 - SS9: Camilli

 

"I'm happy with the afternoon. This one was hard, and an easy place to damage the car. I could have gone faster but I wanted to finish the day."

 

 

Fri 16:01 - SS9: Bertelli

 

"More tricky than this morning because the snow is covering the corners and you can't see the edge clearly. It's a bit of a gamble."

 

 

Fri 16:00 - SS9: Latvala update

 

Retired. Broken suspension.

 

 

Fri 15:59 - SS9: Al Qassimi

 

"The biggest problem in the last two stages has been the lack of traction in the snow. We are making changes to the dampers to try and get a better feeling."

 

 

Fri 15:57 - SS9: Paddon

 

Quickest so far, 4sec up on Ogier, and it's second overnight for the Kiwi. "Road conditions have played a big part, but my confidence is growing all the time. Still more to come."

 

 

Fri 15:54 - SS9: Latvala stopped

 

At the 11.8km point. This could be end of a miserable day for Jari-Matti who has driven most of the stages with a two-wheel drive Polo.

 

 

Fri 15:50 - SS9: Tanak

 

2.7sec off Ogier's pace and Ott is firmly in the fight for second overall. "I've pushed hard and thanks to the snow it's been good. We can be very happy with our first day in snow on the DMACKs."

 

 

Fri 15:49 - SS9: Sordo

 

A great way to finish the day, 2.6sec slower than Ogier on stage and 38sec adrift in the overall standings. "Overall a good day, but the car was moving around too much on the morning loop. I could push more here. It's a really nice fight."

 

 

Fri 15:46 - SS9: Ostberg

 

2.7sec off Ogier's pace. "Being in the battle for second is encouraging. It's been an enjoyable afternoon. I needed time to get used to the car on this surface. Now I feel much better."

 

 

Fri 15:44 - SS9: Neuville

 

1m06.9sec off Ogier's stage time and he's more than six minutes adrift in the overall standings. The Belgian one of many drivers keen to get to service for repairs. "This is the game. Sometimes life is hard. I feel like I'm doing a two-wheel drive championship in the last few races. We are getting used to it."

 

 

Fri 15:42 - SS9: Mikkelsen

 

2.7sec slower than Ogier. "A bit too careful in here. But a few mistakes too. It's difficult with the weather and the guys coming from behind too."

 

 

Fri 15:40 - SS9: Ogier

 

He's through in 9m00.6s. "Already this afternoon I struggled a lot [in the snow] I pushed hard because I know the guys behind will have a clean line. I do my best. I have to be happy because this stage was good for me and I got lucky earlier on."

 

 

Fri 15:25 - Meeke update:

 

Retired for the day. He hit a stone buried in the road. His comment on Twitter: "Unbelievable!!! Identical to Monte Carlo. I follow the line in a slow corner and a stone buried in the road..INCREDIBLE!"

 

 

 Fri 15:24 - Up next: SS9

 

Ogier will begin the repeat of Torsby at 1528hrs

 

 

 

 

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