ID :
23923
Sat, 10/11/2008 - 12:58
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https://oananews.org//node/23923
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BP-Ford Abu Dhabi up title race ante in Rally De France
Ajaccio, Corsica, Oct. 11, 2008 (WAM) - After three consecutive one-two finishes for BP-Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team's manufacturers' championship rivals Citroen, the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority-backed outfit's title outlook appeared a shade brighter today following an eventful opening three stages of Rallye de France - round 13 of the 15-event FIA World Rally Championship series.
Trailing Citroen by 27 manufacturers' points prior to this weekend's Corsican asphalt test, the UAE capital sponsored team received an early Rally de France boost when Citroen's number two driver, Dani Sordo, retired from Friday's action after clipping a wall during stage three - an incident which severely damaged his left-hand front suspension.
With only two WRC fixtures - in Japan and Great Britain - remaining, a maximum Citroen points in Corsica enough for the team to lift the manufacturers' title. However, BP-Ford Abu Dhabi's Mikko Hirvonen and Francois Duval made the most of Sordo's untimely crash to enter Friday's midday service in second and third place.
The Abu Dhabi pair's positive Rally de France showing came with Sordo's Citroen team-mate, four-time world champion, Sebastien Loeb, looking his dominant best as he set the early pace in his home event.
Hirvonen was second through the opening 15.92km test from Acqua Doria to Serra di Ferro before posting fourth quickest time in the 16.62km Portigliolo - Bocca Albitrina. He ended the morning with third fastest in the long and mostly uphill 27.47km climb from Arbellara to Aullene to return to service in Ajaccio 14.4sec adrift of Loeb.
"I'm happy with the car set-up, especially after my difficulties last week in Spain," said the 28-year-old Finn. "Maybe my driving could improve and while I'm quick, I'm not quick enough yet. It's early in the rally and I feel as though I'm driving slowly, but its working. Dani Sordo's retirement helps our team so I need to keep the pressure on Sebastien Loeb. The stages were bumpy but I was too cautious in the second test because the surface was abrasive with lots of grip. I should have attacked more." Duval, eighth in the start order, encountered roads made dirty by the passage of the cars in front. However, the 27-year-old Belgian was fourth after a cautious opening stage, before setting third and second fastest times in the next two tests to trail Hirvonen by only 2.2secs at the day one midpoint.
"It was difficult because the roads were dirty and that's why I lost time in the first stage," said Duval. "The conditions will be the same for everyone this afternoon. The car understeered a little but maybe that's normal when the roads are dirty. I'm going to stiffen the suspension springs in service and while I didn't push to the maximum this morning, I'm going to do that now. I want to try to catch Loeb." Elsewhere, and Abu Dhabi driver Sheikh Khalid Al Qasimi was 16th after the opening loop of stages. The Emirati - making his Corsica debut - admitting that a newly found rhythm on tarmac, his least favourite surface, was being countered by a lack of familiarity with Rallye De France on the whole.
"I certainly see why this rally is called the Rally of 10,000 Corners," said Al Qasimi. "I'm driving well but there are bends everywhere and every corner is unknown to me. There was a lot of loose gravel and lots of cutting from the cars ahead. I backed off to go round the gravel to avoid having any big moments.
"Stage two was faster than the others with many big, fast corners and I needed to be confident because I could see the marks where other cars had gone off the road - there will be more retirements!" – Emirates News Agency, WAM
Trailing Citroen by 27 manufacturers' points prior to this weekend's Corsican asphalt test, the UAE capital sponsored team received an early Rally de France boost when Citroen's number two driver, Dani Sordo, retired from Friday's action after clipping a wall during stage three - an incident which severely damaged his left-hand front suspension.
With only two WRC fixtures - in Japan and Great Britain - remaining, a maximum Citroen points in Corsica enough for the team to lift the manufacturers' title. However, BP-Ford Abu Dhabi's Mikko Hirvonen and Francois Duval made the most of Sordo's untimely crash to enter Friday's midday service in second and third place.
The Abu Dhabi pair's positive Rally de France showing came with Sordo's Citroen team-mate, four-time world champion, Sebastien Loeb, looking his dominant best as he set the early pace in his home event.
Hirvonen was second through the opening 15.92km test from Acqua Doria to Serra di Ferro before posting fourth quickest time in the 16.62km Portigliolo - Bocca Albitrina. He ended the morning with third fastest in the long and mostly uphill 27.47km climb from Arbellara to Aullene to return to service in Ajaccio 14.4sec adrift of Loeb.
"I'm happy with the car set-up, especially after my difficulties last week in Spain," said the 28-year-old Finn. "Maybe my driving could improve and while I'm quick, I'm not quick enough yet. It's early in the rally and I feel as though I'm driving slowly, but its working. Dani Sordo's retirement helps our team so I need to keep the pressure on Sebastien Loeb. The stages were bumpy but I was too cautious in the second test because the surface was abrasive with lots of grip. I should have attacked more." Duval, eighth in the start order, encountered roads made dirty by the passage of the cars in front. However, the 27-year-old Belgian was fourth after a cautious opening stage, before setting third and second fastest times in the next two tests to trail Hirvonen by only 2.2secs at the day one midpoint.
"It was difficult because the roads were dirty and that's why I lost time in the first stage," said Duval. "The conditions will be the same for everyone this afternoon. The car understeered a little but maybe that's normal when the roads are dirty. I'm going to stiffen the suspension springs in service and while I didn't push to the maximum this morning, I'm going to do that now. I want to try to catch Loeb." Elsewhere, and Abu Dhabi driver Sheikh Khalid Al Qasimi was 16th after the opening loop of stages. The Emirati - making his Corsica debut - admitting that a newly found rhythm on tarmac, his least favourite surface, was being countered by a lack of familiarity with Rallye De France on the whole.
"I certainly see why this rally is called the Rally of 10,000 Corners," said Al Qasimi. "I'm driving well but there are bends everywhere and every corner is unknown to me. There was a lot of loose gravel and lots of cutting from the cars ahead. I backed off to go round the gravel to avoid having any big moments.
"Stage two was faster than the others with many big, fast corners and I needed to be confident because I could see the marks where other cars had gone off the road - there will be more retirements!" – Emirates News Agency, WAM
