Rally of Turkey (15-18 April 2010) – Day 2

Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia led the overall classification right up until SS15, when theylost three minutes this afternoon with a puncture. They will start the final day in fifth place, just infront of their Citroën Junior Team team mates. Kimi Räikkönen and Kaj Lindström, who arecurrently sixth, made up two places yesterday.

The second day of the Rally of Turkey was the longest of the event. With some sections on asphalt andothers on rough gravel, the route offered a real challenge to both the cars and their drivers.

Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia were first on the road today by virtue of leading the event yesterday.While the French crew benefited from perfect conditions on the handful of asphalt kilometres, they thenhad to sweep the road clean on gravel. Having set one fastest time in the morning, the number 7 C4WRC returned to Pendik with a lead of more than 10 seconds.

“I think we managed to limit the damage well,” said the leader at the time. ” I’m just trying to domy best and go as quickly as possible. On asphalt, I tried to make the difference. Looking back ateverything, I think we came out of it quite well. We’re only at the halfway point of the rally andthere are five drivers who can still win.”

Unfortunately, a puncture in the final part of Ulupelit 2 (SS15) cost the 2008 Junior World RallyChampion three minutes. “In a very quick part of the stage, when we were travelling at around 180kphthe front-left tyre just exploded, even though we did not hit anything,” he added. “We were able tochange the wheel and get going again. Now we need to rediscover our motivation and get to the end ofthe rally.”

Kimi Räikkönen and Kaj Lindström started the day in eighth place and used the first loop of stages tomove up the leaderboard. By the end of SS10, the former F1 World Champion was already sixthoverall.”“The Citroën C4 W

RC always feels easy to drive,” said the Finn. “On the asphalt I was maybe a little toocareful until I realised how much grip was available. I’m pleased with our pace: it was a good day withoutthe slightest problem. The only thing was that I stalled twice in the same place on each of the loops ofstages. We improved our pace in the afternoon. Tomorrow will be a new day where we will try to keep ourposition to the end.”

Benoit Nogier, the Citroën Junior Team Manager, said: “Sébastien was driving what was virtually aperfect rally. It’s disappointing that he was unable to keep fighting for victory all the way to the end, butthe rally is far from over. Sébastien and Julien are fifth, which would still be a good result. This takesnothing away from the top performance they have been putting in since yesterday morning. Kimi is alsomaking very good progress. He has managed to break away from the drivers he was fighting with at thestart of this event. It’s all very encouraging.”

THE RALLY BY NUMBERS

SS10: Gocbeyli 1 (18.17 km) 2nd +0’’6 1st 7th +28’’2 6th +2’18’’2SS11: Ulupelit 1 (12.98 km) 5th +7’’1 1st 9th +29’’0 6th +2’40’’1SS12: Bozhane 1 (14.59 km) 1st 1st 6th +21’’9 6th +3’02’’0SS13: Riva 1 (27.17 km) 4th +8’’2 1st 6th +25’’8 6th +3’19’’6SS14: Gocbeyli 2 (18.17 km) 3rd +6’’9 1st 9th +32’’9 6th +3’45’’6SS15: Ulupelit 2 (12.98 km) 32nd +3’12’’1 5th +3’03’’9 8th +22’’8 6th +4’00’’2SS16: Bozhane 2 (14.59 km) 2nd +1’’7 5th +3’05’’6 8th +17’’6 6th +4’17’’8SS17: Riva 2 (27.17 km) 6th +15’’4 5th +3’21’’0 8th +19’’7 6th +4’37’’5

Fastest stage timesDay 1 – SS1: Petter Solberg (Citroën C4) – SS2: Dani Sordo (Citroën C4) – SS3: Sébastien Ogier(Citroën C4) – SS4: P. Solberg – SS5 and SS6: Ogier – SS7: Sordo – SS8: P. Solberg – SS9: SébastienLoeb (Citroën C4).Day 2 – SS10: P. Solberg – SS11: Mikko Hirvonen (Ford Focus) – SS12: Ogier – SS13: P. Solberg –SS14: Loeb – SS15: Hirvonen – SS16 and SS17: Loeb.

Best performers: P. Solberg, 5 fastest times – Ogier and Loeb, 4 – Sordo, 2 – Hirvonen, 2.Leaders: SS1: Solberg – SS2: Sordo – SS3 to SS14: Ogier – SS15 to SS17: Loeb.

Classification at the end of day two1. Loeb / Elena Citroën C4 2:19’13’’52. P. Solberg / Mills Citroën C4 +16’’23. Hirvonen / Lehtinen Ford Focus +17’’34. Sordo / Marti Citroën C4 +22’’45. Ogier / Ingrassia Citroën C4 +3’21’’06. Räikkönen / Lindström Citroën C4 +4’37’’57. Villagra / Perez Companc Ford Focus +5’10’’18. Wilson / Martin Ford Focus +7’06’’69. Tanak / Sikk Mitsubishi Lancer +14’33’’610. Kuipers / Miclotte Ford Fiesta +17’16’’2…

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