Jordan Rally (31 March– 3 April 2010) – Day 3
Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia ran first on the road throughout the final day of the JordanRally, with the aim of helping Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena to claim their 56th event victory inthe FIA World Rally Championship. Ogier and Ingrassia finished sixth, ahead of Kimi Räikkönenand Kaj Lindström – who scored their first points with eighth place overall in the other CitroënJunior Team C4 WRC.
The long final day of the Jordan Rally was feared by all the crews. A total of eight special stages were onthe schedule, making up 105.5 competitive kilometres.
At the day’s first service halt, an electronic control unit problem immobilised the number 7 Citroën C4WRC of Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia. The French crew left the service park five minutes late. Theythen checked in eight minutes early to the start of SS14 (Yakrut 1), the first stage of the day, in order torun first on the road ahead of Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena.
“With the road position that we had, the stages were extremely slippery,” said the former Junior WorldRally Champion, who had been feeling unwell overnight. “ I’m not in great form at the moment. I’m justtrying not to make a mistake. There’s no reason to go quickly. Running first on the road is still a newexperience for us.”
Kimi Räikkönen and Kaj Lindström continued their efforts on a surface that was very hard to understand;especially for a beginner. “We didn’t push hard today as there was little left to gain,” said Räikkönen. “Itwas important just to learn and gain more experience on this surface. ”
By the end of the Jordan Rally – only his third World Rally Championship event at the wheel of theCitroën Junior Team C4 WRC – the 2007 Formula 1 World Champion had scored his first WRC points.“It was an extremely difficult rally with the most complex special stages I have ever had to drive” addedRäikkönen. “ But we eventually achieved our objective of getting to the finish without making any bigmistakes. I’m feeling more comfortable in the Citroën C4 WRC every day. ”
Sébastien Ogier ended up sixth, setting fastest time on the last stage. “We managed to have anexcellent weekend by stringing together some good performances without making mistakes,” hereported. “We’re making progress with every rally we contest. I’m very pleased generally with the waythat our rally has gone. We’ve proved that we were capable of fighting at the front. ”
Citroën Junior Team manager Benoit Nogier concluded: “First of all, we’re delighted to see both ourCitroën C4 WRCs at the finish after some encouraging performances. Kimi has scored points by gettingto the end of a very complicated rally without making any big mistakes. He is feeling more and morecomfortable with the car with every kilometre. The performance will come with time and experience.Sébastien did what he had to do. He doesn’t have any championship aspirations. Instead his goal is todemonstrate that he is capable of mixing it with the best, and I think he showed that once more thisweekend. ”
THE RALLY BY NUMBERSSébastien Ogier / Julien Ingrassia Kimi Räikkönen / Kaj LindströmSS14 : Yakrut 1 (14.16 km) 5th +13’’0 8th +9’27’’8 8th +32’’6 7th +8’41’’6SS15 : Banath 1 (12.53 km) 5th +13’’0 8th +9’40’’3 11th +30’’0 7th +9’11’’3SS16 : Shuna 1 (15.23 km) 4th +12’’4 7th +9’52’’7 9th +48’’1 8th +9’59’’4SS17 : Baptism Site 1 (10.83 km) 2nd +4’’2 7th +9’56’’9 10th +24’’5 8th +10’23’’9SS18 : Yakrut 2 (14.16 km) 6th +13’’2 7th +10’08’’4 8th +34’’4 8th +10’56’’6SS19 : Banath 2 (12.53 km) 6th +9’’8 6th +10’18’’2 10th +36’’0 8th +11’32’’6SS20 : Shuna 2 (15.23 km) 6th +13’’6 6th +10’28’’0 11th +45’’4 8th +12’14’’2SS21 : Baptism Site 2 (10.83 km) 1st 6th +10’26’’4 10th +18’’4 8th +12’31’’0
Fastest stage timesDay 1 – SS1 and SS2: Jari-Matti Latvala (Ford Focus) – SS3: Dani Sordo (Citroën C4) – SS4: PetterSolberg (Citroën C4) – SS5: Latvala – SS6: P. Solberg – SS7: Sébastien Loeb (Citroën C4).Day 2 – SS8: Loeb – SS9: P. Solberg – SS10 and SS11: Loeb – SS12: P. Solberg – SS13: Loeb.Day 3: SS14: Loeb – SS15: P. Solberg – SS16 and SS17: Loeb – SS18: Latvala – SS19: Loeb – SS20:Latvala – SS21: Ogier.Best performers: Loeb, 9 fastest times – P. Solberg and Latvala, 5 – Sordo and Ogier, 1.Leaders: SS1 and SS2: Latvala – SS3: Sordo – SS4 to SS10: Latvala – SS11: Loeb and Latvala – SS12to SS21: Loeb.
Provisional final classification (subject to scrutineering)1. Loeb / Elena Citroën C4 3h46’08’’52. Latvala / Anttila Ford Focus +35’’83. P. Solberg / Mills Citroën C4 +1’11’’84. Sordo / Marti Citroën C4 +1’49’’35. Wilson / Martin Ford Focus +8’24’’36. Ogier / Ingrassia Citroën C4 +10’26’’47. Villagra / Perez Companc Ford Focus +11’28’’08. Räikkönen / Lindström Citroën C4 +12’31’’09. H. Solberg / Minor Ford Focus +14’08’’610. Pons / Haro Ford Fiesta +18’33’’9
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