RALI TRANSIBERICO 2008 Day 3

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May 24, 2008 in Motorsport

RALI TRANSIBERICO 2008 Day 3

FIA CROSS-COUNTRY RALLY WORLD CUP (Round 2) RALI TRANSIBERICO (MAY 20-25,2008)

Friday May 23rd (interim report)

ROMA AND ALPHAND LEAD FOR MITSUBISHI, BUT RETIREMENT FOR PETERHANSEL

Following overnight rain in the mountains that mark the border between Central Portugal and Spain, the organisers took the decision to shorten Friday's scheduled 140.58km stage.

The start and the finish remain the same, but a 69km section in the middle of the loop was dropped to bring the total competitive distance down to 73.25km.

The same route will be used for this afternoon's run. The wet, cold weather (14°C) also made the conditions particularlytreacherous for the drivers, although the skies were a little clearer - with the occasional drop of rain - as the route headed onto Spanish soil for the day. Nani Roma/Lucas Cruz (Spain) profited from the brief visit on to home territory with their diesel-powered Pajero/Montero Evolution MPR14.

They were followed in second Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero, team-mates LucAlphand/Gilles Picard (France) in the petrol-powered MPR13.

Stéphane Peterhansel/Jean-Paul Cottret (France) were unfortunately eliminated when they went off into the woods. Their car ended its path beneath the road and the crew - who were unhurt - were unable to get it back onto the stage.

Nani Roma (Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero Evolution MPR14 N°4)

Position on stage: 2nd Provisional overall position: 1st

"It was a tough stage; very slippery with changes in grip all the time. We had the added difficulty of being first on the road which meant we had nobody else's lines to go by. But we came through it OK. The car is fine, and I feel much better now. It was a good start to the day."

Luc Alphand (Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero Evolution MPR13 N°3)

Position on the stage: 3rd Provisional overall position: 2nd

"It was almost like driving in the mountains near my home in the French Alps. The stage was very varied,with some nice wide portions, and constant changes in the amount of grip available. Plus lots of steep drops! The mud made it very treacherous and it would have been so easy to make a mistake, but we came through it OK - just slightly slower than Nani."

Dominique Serieys (Team Director, Team Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart) "The morning went well for Nani and Luc, but not so well for Stéphane and Jean-Paul. But that's rallying. Nothing can be taken for granted in this sport and an error is always possible, especially when the conditions are as slippery and as complex as they were this morning."

SS4 CLASSIFICATION

1. Nasser Al-Attiyah (BMW X3 CC)- 1:04:50 (+**:**:**.*)

2. Joan Roma (MITSUBISHI PAJERO/MONTERO EVOLUTION)- 1:05:47 (+0:57)

3. Luc Alphand (MITSUBISHI PAJERO/MONTERO EVOLUTION)- 1:05:55 (+1:05)

4. Pedro Grancha (NISSAN NAVARA OFF)- 1:09:58 (+5:08)

5. Helder Oliveira (NISSAN PATHFINDER)- 1:11:05 (+6:15)

6. Leonid Novistsky (BMW X3 CC)- 1:11:27 (+6:37)

7. Filipe Campos (BMW X3 CC)- 1:11:40 (+6:50)

8. Antonio Mendes (NISSAN NAVARA)- 1:13:04 (+8:14)

9. Nuno Inocencio (MITSUBISHI PAJERO)- 1:13:13 (+8:23)

10. Ricardo Leal dos Santos (BMW X5)- 1:13:15 (+8:25)

OVERALL CLASSIFICATION AFTER SS4