“I am very disappointed with what has happened today. We hit a rock on the inside of a right hand corner on stage 5 and broke the right suspension. It is a shame because the feeling was starting to come and we set the third fastest time on stage 4. The mechanics will be working hard tonight and hopefully they can have the car fixed for tomorrow’s stages.”
[Speaking in the mid-day service] “I couldn’t see a thing for the entire first stage that I don’t even remember it. It was incredible how much fog there was and we lost so much time because of this. When the conditions are wet and there is lots of fog it makes the grip level very difficult to judge. My times on the last two stages were a lot better and we set the second fastest time on the last one but it is just a shame we lost all that time on stage 1.”
Toni Gardemeister [Suzuki WRT]: [retired from day 1 in SS8 – hit a rock and damaged the suspension - re-started on day 2 under SupeRally]
"Both myself and P-G have actually been very unlucky on this event. In my case I saw a big rock right on the racing line, which is unusual, and I could not help hitting it. Without that problem we would have got to the end of the day safely in seventh, with some good chances of finishing in the top six. Everything is not yet lost though, and we can still come back and achieve something from this event. The conditions today were as difficult as I have ever known them: the surfaces were really slippery and we were struggling for grip all the time. It could be the same again tomorrow, so we have to just try and stay out of trouble and move up the order as best as we can."
Luis Perez Companc [Munchi’s Ford WRT]: [retired from event in SS8 – went off the road and got stuck in a ditch]
[Speaking in the mid-day service] “We have to change the suspension, it has to be softer. I was not able to see even 5 metres ahead due to the heavy fog. I went off the road three times in La Cumbre and that’s why Villagra has got a 1 minute difference. It is a pity SS2 has been so difficult because it is a stage I like a lot”.
Gigi Galli [Stobart VK M-Sport Ford WRT]: [retired from day 2 in service D – exhaust damage]
"I am disappointed with what has happened today but in rallying anything can happen. My mechanics did a fantastic job trying so hard to fix the car before time ran out so I must say thank you to them all. With 10 kilometres to go in stage 13 the car started filling up with smoke and I could not see very much so had to slow down a bit. We found the problem in service but unfortunately the heat from the exhaust problem damaged the main wiring loom and it was impossible to fix in the allocated time limit. The stages were very fast and this morning I had trouble finding a good rhythm as they were quite different to what we experienced yesterday. I am disappointed we couldn’t stay out there today and give the fans a good show but we will be back tomorrow to compete on some of the most famous stages in the WRC."
Henning Solberg [Stobart VK M-Sport Ford WRT]: [retired from day 2 in service D – withdrawn]
"It was unfortunate we had to retire yesterday but it has given me a chance to work on my pacenotes today and get more experience of this rally which I have only done twice before. The plan was to get through the stages with no problems and we have done this so I am happy. We made a decision with the team to retire for the afternoon stages to keep the car in the best condition but we will be back tomorrow to finish the only two stages of the rally we have not completed yet. The next rally is also on gravel so this extra time in the car will help with our preparation for Jordan."
Jari-Matti Latvala [BP Ford Abu Dhabi WRT]: [retired from day 2 in service D – over the time limit]
"On the first stage we drove down a long fast straight with some jumps and dips. In one compression, just before a crest, there was a rock which had become exposed in the middle of the road and it struck the sump guard beneath the car. At the finish we opened the bonnet to check everything was OK before driving to the next stage. We stopped before the start to wait for our turn, but when I tried to start the engine nothing happened. We tried to 'bump start' it to release the starter motor but it was no good. The sump guard must have impacted with the starter motor. When we realised we had gone beyond the time limit, spectators helped push start it and we drove the stage. I've made mistakes here but I've also had no luck. I hope we have some tomorrow."
Per-Gunnar Andersson [Suzuki WRT]: [retired from day 2 in SS14 – suspension damage]
