“We caught Toni in some of the stages today, but he was good and let us past quite quickly. I’m really feeling better about everything now. Confidence was pretty low after the start yesterday, but the feeling is really coming in the car now. I just want to hold this position together and get to the end in one piece. It’s just amazing that I have come here for the first time and I’m in fifth place. Incredible! I said at the start that this would be an event to survive – and that’s just what I want to do now. To get fifth place here would be such a great result for me, David [Senior, co-driver] and all of the team who have worked so hard.”
Mikko Hirvonen [BP Ford Abu Dhabi WRT]:
"I didn't think I could make up so many positions. It was hard to find motivation this morning looking at our position but I was quite excited this afternoon when cars started to fall by the wayside. Tomorrow the plan is to drive flat out because anything can happen ahead and I could score a lot more points here than I thought was possible last night. I don't want to let Loeb leave here with too many more points than us. It was incredibly rough and the car took some massive hits underneath this afternoon, but the Focus is strong and we were OK, although the impacts cracked the windscreen and the drivers' side window."
Andreas Aigner [Mitsubishi Lancer Evo - PWRC leader]:
“It was really hard for me today. On the one hand I wanted to ride as gently as possible but on the other hand I had to make sure I did not lose too much time. The teamwork was perfect though as we were always told the latest standings. Tomorrow is going to be another tough day.”
[Speaking in the mid-day service] "Today I was trying from the very first corner to keep my opponents checked. This meant that I had to shun any unnecessary risks, post decent stage times and avoid making mistakes. Up to now it has been going great."
Notable retirements:
Per-Gunnar Andersson [Suzuki WRT]: [retired from day 1 before SS1 - boost pressure sensor failure - re-started on day 2 under SupeRally]
