“We flew in an engine specialist from Liechtenstein for our test on Monday,” noted
Red Bull Skoda team boss, Armin Schwarz. “He was there to provide clarification for us on how the two mysterious incidents came about in Cyprus. We’ll then process the results in time on location. After all we want to have another trouble-free rally with both Fabia WRC cars in Turkey, just like we have managed so often throughout the season so far.”
Red Bull Skoda number one driver, Harri Rovanpera meanwhile is hoping to be able to finish in the top eight, assuming they have resolved the problems that put him and his team-mate, Andreas Aigner out after SS1 in Cyprus: “I presume that the team will get a grip on the Cyprus problems. Of course we only had limited time for preparation, so we all have to work hard. Myself, I’m entirely motivated and I hope to finally bring in drivers’ and manufacturers’ points this time with a good result in Turkey without any particular problems.”
Aigner was also disappointed with what happened in Cyprus, especially as his 22nd birthday was on the Sunday: “It hurt me quite a bit when we ran just a single stage. That’s why my intention for Turkey, my ninth WRC event in a Fabia WRC, will be to finish with the same target objectives as in Cyprus. We’ll just have to drink to my birthday a little bit late,” he added.
Junior WRC:
In the Junior WRC, 19 of the 21 drivers’ contesting the championship have opted to nominate this event, including current championship leader, Per-Gunnar Andersson and his nearest points rival, Patrik Sandell, who trails the
Suzuki ace by just one point.
Brit’s Guy Wilks and Kris Meeke will also be out in action, as will
Urmo Aava and
Conrad Rautenbach.
Meeke will need a win and nothing less in Turkey, if he is to keep alive his slim hopes of taking the Junior title. Meeke, who has led all the rounds he has contested so far in 2006, has claimed the highest number of stage wins and also tops the so-called 'sprinters' standings. However the Ulsterman had been dogged by misfortune and as such has only managed to take one JWRC win and one third place, something that leaves him languishing in joint seventh in the drivers’ championship with 16 points, 13 off Junior WRC points’ leader, Per-Gunnar Andersson.
