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Gronholm: I could not win so second was next best |
BP Ford team leader, Marcus Gronholm had to make do with the runners-up spot on the Rallye de France-Tour de Corse on Sunday, despite putting in one of his best ever performances on tarmac.
Gronholm led during the first leg before his arch title rival Sebastien Loeb moved ahead and then stretched his advantage on the second day.
The 39-year-old started Sunday's final four special stages 27.5 seconds behind Loeb and aware that the win was out of reach opted for a fast but safe pace in order to ensure he picked up the eight points for P2.
Speaking at the finish though, after seeing his championship lead cut for the second Sunday in succession, Marcus admitted the race for the title is now completely open.
“I could not win so second was the next best result. It will be really tight for the next three rallies and I have no idea who will be world champion,” he reflected.
“A four-point lead is nothing, especially with three rallies coming. I could not do better here but Japan will be really hard now. Winning there would help me a lot but I'm not feeling too much pressure at the moment.
“After all I only conceded two points to Loeb on what is one of his strongest events of the season - and I still lead the championship after two consecutive weekends on asphalt, which is my least favourite surface.
"On the first day I was really close to Seb here but I couldn't match him on Saturday, although I feel my asphalt driving is more consistent than last year.”
Asked about the final day, Gronholm added that he couldn't ease off as much as he had wanted as Dani Sordo put in a charge in the #2 Citroen C4 WRC and as such he had to keep posting quick times to stay in front.
“I really had to drive quite hard today because Dani was pushing behind us and I couldn't afford to let him get near,” Marcus summed-up.
