|
Rally reactions: Wales Rally GB - Leg 2 |
Mikko Hirvonen [BP Ford WRT]:
"It was certainly easier driving than yesterday. Although we had some rain the visibility was better and I could see where I was going. That's two days down and one to go, and I'm still at the front so I'm not complaining about the conditions too much. On the middle stage this afternoon I went straight on at a slippery asphalt junction but that made me even more determined. It will be good to wake up in the morning in the lead, but I'm not taking anything for granted. Marcus might want to give me one last lesson before he retires so I will have to stay alert and keep the pace high to keep him behind me.”
[Speaking in the mid-day service] "I've not been on these roads for several years and I was too careful up to the midpoint of the first stage. Halfway was difficult because there were many hairpins and tight junctions and my handbrake wasn't working properly. I'm driving at a pace I'm happy with but if Marcus decides to push, I may not be able to hold him. Conditions are easier and I've found a good rhythm today."
Marcus Gronholm [BP Ford WRT]:
"There was no stress and no pressure today as I can do nothing but wait and see what happens to Loeb. There's no plan to push to catch Mikko. It would be stupid for me to do that and make a mistake. My plan is to stay in second. It would be good to win my final rally but that's not my priority – the title is. It was great to win in the Millennium Stadium, though. There was a fantastic atmosphere and I really appreciated the ovation the fans gave me at the end of the stage."
"I don't know what happened but the right corner was oversteering [in the final proper stage] and the car was like a snake. I didn't hit anything and then on the motorway to the final stage in Cardiff it was OK again. It was a mystery...”
Sebastien Loeb [Citroen Total WRT]:
"It effectively rained for most of the day but visibility was far better than yesterday. The stages themselves were different, too. There were more long, fast corners which call for a more fluid style as you flow from turn to turn. I've always enjoyed this sort of road here in previous years but it was quite frustrating this time round. However, if we end up taking the title, that will soon be forgotten. We have stuck to our game-plan so far and we are currently third with a handy lead over our closest chasers and just one day to go!"
[Speaking in the mid-day service] "We tried to find the same pace that seemed to work yesterday. The drivers ahead of us have pulled further clear but that doesn't bother me because we're not taking any risks whatsoever. That's a bit frustrating because these are fantastic stages. However, our aim is to win the title, so it's worth it!"
Petter Solberg [Subaru WRT]:
“Today has not been so bad for us, but the conditions have been difficult again. We struggled quite a lot actually. The final spectator stage was great; a lot of Subaru flags and Welsh flags for Phil. We always get a good welcome here. The stages tomorrow are very, very difficult. Very muddy and slippery. We will see; we will try hard to do some good stage times and get a good result. That's the main thing.”
[Speaking in the mid-day service] “We tried some new damper settings for that loop but unfortunately they didn't give me the feeling I wanted. We had a little spin in the middle of the road on SS8. It was only about 40metres from the start, but it took about 25seconds to re-start the engine. Apart from that it was okay. We'll try something different for the afternoon.”
Daniel Sordo [Citroen Total WRT]:
"The fact that there was no fog allowed me loosen up a bit. The stages are difficult but I succeeded in posting some quick times compared to rivals with more experience of these forests. The amount of grip changes all the time and it can be easy to get caught out under braking. We also found ourselves aquaplaning in the mud quite a lot. Once again, I have been able to measure how important experience is on the loose if you want to be both quick and consistent on a stage from start to finish."
