SERVICE FLASH B
Car 1. OGIER/INGRASSIA
“It’s been difficult. The first stage was hard for everyone. That stage is never easy. I struggled a lot. I did
not feel comfortable in the car. The time was okay. Very hot this afternoon. It will be difficult conditions. I
hope the grip will be a bit higher.”
Car 4. LAPPI/FERM
“Tomorrow is quite important for the road position. It is not looking so good for us. It has not been
enjoyable. Now I can concentrate fully on driving. We are closer than last year, but it was very slippery.
I had a few moments when I went a bit wide and I backed off. It’s so easy to break something. I need to
keep the car on the line. The conditions will be a little more equal this afternoon.”
Car 5. MEEKE/MARSHALL
“Good. Good loop and no dramas. A lot of dust in the car on the first stage. We were coughing and
spluttering a bit The second stage was a lot faster and the dust did not get in. Ogier has a good speed,
one car in front of us. I’m quite happy. Tyre choice will be crucial this aftermon. We have a difficult tyre
choice to make now.”
Marshall, on his 50th WRC rally start, said:
“11 years since I did my first one. A nice new experience here for me. It’s hot and the atmosphere last
night was incredible. The stages are quite demanding with the heat in the car. It’s part of the challenge.
Tomorrow, we have a lot of rhythm changes, technical, slow, fast and a lot of things to warn drivers. It
takes time to recalibrate.”
Car 6. SORDO/DEL BARRIO
“The morning was good. I am surprised that Sébastien was so fast with his road position. He is on
another planet. We will see this afternoon with the tyres. It’s nice to be back.”
Car 8. TÄNAK/JÄRVEOJA
“I think it has been standard, like always. Nothing special. The feeling is quite good. Car working well.
No complaint. Normal loose gravel. I know what it means to open the road. We had a clean loop with no
mistakes and a good feeling. I guess it wil be similar this afternoon. We try to do everything again.”
Car 10. LATVALA/ANTTILA
“I cannot be completely satisified with my position. Sixth from eighth on the road is not what I wanted. I
did not drive El Chocolate very well. It came on the next one. Then I started to get back into it. We are
17 or 18 seconds behind and everything is open. It’s a long rally. I guess hards on the front this
afternoon.”
Car 11. NEUVILLE/GILSOUL
“There was much less cleaning than what I remember last year. The time differences are less than the
past year. We had a slow puncture and our position for the moment is not good. It was a sharp stone
and I could not drive around because I try to avoid the bigger stones.”
Car 89. MIKKELSEN/JAEGER-AMLAND
“It’s a good feeling and a positive start. We had a nice clean run in El Chocolate. Our preparations paid
off. Slower on stage three but we did not lose a lot. A small lead, but nice. I had a good road position
and I put a lot of effort into the first stage. The grip will be higher this afternoon and we will set up the
car a little bit different. You need a stiffer car. I think it is impossible to go on soft tyres in the aftermoon.
I expect everyone will be on hard tyres.”
Car 41. GUERRA/ZAPATA
Second in WRC 2 at the midday break.
Car 42. BULACIA/CRETU
The Bolivian leads WRC 2 by 0.3 seconds after a gripping morning tussle with Guerra.