[Speaking after SS4] "I have a feeling today that it is not quite all there. I can't commit to corners 100 per cent and I'm having to feather the throttle, which on fast flowing corners like these means you lose proportionately more time. It's a shame as we were quick in Germany on asphalt and in testing here, but the speed will come."
[Speaking after SS2] "We paid the price for a bad tyre choice there. They were way too hard for the conditions - it's as simple as that. Okay, I pushed quite hard at the start of the first one, and the first split was actually okay, the same time as Loeb, but I was obviously taking too many risks and I made a mistake at a junction soon after. From then on we backed off a bit, I realised there was too much at stake to keep pushing with those sort of risks."
Xavier Pons [Subaru WRT]:
"It's been a difficult day for me. We had some problems with the brakes in the morning and on the last stage my windscreen wipers broke right when the rain started to fall, so on balance it's hard to be too positive. Okay, we're in ninth position now, and there's still a long way to go, but getting a good result on this rally is going to be extremely hard. I'll do my best tomorrow, but from now on I'm going to be preparing a little for the next rally in Corsica at the same time as completing this one.
Henning Solberg [Stobart M-Sport Ford WRT]:
To be in the top-ten after my first day, and my first ever attempt at this rally, is quite a good sensation. I enjoyed the stages this morning but I have no experience of this event and this is something I must remember and try not to get carried away during the rally. I didn't have a perfect feeling with the car and it's hard to find the exact amount to push. It's difficult to know exactly how to drive this car on tarmac and my style at the moment is not working too well. The last stage today was so slippery as it rained heavily and we were on slicks; I had to be very careful under braking and keep a steady head. Tomorrow should be a good day as I'm learning with every stage I complete.
Matthew Wilson [Stobart M-Sport Ford WRT]:
I have been trying to learn on this event and the conditions have made this very difficult. The car and tyres have been great but the surface changes so much on the stages that it's hard to get into a rhythm and get confidence. If the weather had stayed dry in the afternoon then it would have helped but the heavy rain on the last stage put paid to that; and with my wiper problem, it was an extremely difficult situation. I have taken good experience from today and we are just outside the top-ten; it's a good first day and hopefully if it keeps dry tomorrow, I can up my confidence and up my pace.
Khalid Al Qassimi [BP Ford WRT]:
"I have sampled a wide range of new experiences today. It was foggy this morning and then on the final stage the rain was so heavy that I decided not to take risks. The windscreen misted and a wiper broke so I had to peer around that to see the road."
