Stobart drivers begin in points through Latvala and Wilson
The Stobart VK M-Sport Ford rally team have got off to yet another blinding start with two drivers inside the top-eight after three stages of today’s opening leg of Wales Rally GB.
Finnish driver Jari-Matti Latvala sits in fourth after some stunning driving while British youngster Matthew Wilson holds eighth following an increasingly improved performance over the morning. Team-mate Henning Solberg’s early puncture saw him slip back to eleventh coming into Service A this afternoon.
Last night’s Ceremonial start kicked-off proceedings as crews drove over the ramp in front of Cardiff city hall to cheering spectators who gathered to celebrate this final round of the 2007 FIA World Rally Championship.
Conditions over this morning’s opening three stages were a typical Rally GB test taking drivers through blinding fog and a thick, muddy surface. With the worst of the fog clearing by stage 3, rain began to fall maintaining the severity of conditions over this opening loop of stages.
Solberg’s day began with a frustrating rear left puncture which saw him lose over one minute on the opening 17.41 kilometre test. On just the second right hand corner of Rally GB the Norwegian incurred the puncture and by stage end was running completely on the rim of his Stobart Ford Focus RS WRC06.
Visibility levels made things tough as both Latvala and Wilson struggled early to find a suitable rhythm amidst the thick fog. By the final stage of the loop however, both drivers put in exceptional stage times with the Finn posting an impressive second fastest time and the young Briton putting in a seventh fastest on the 27.91 kilometre monster.
Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team Driver Henning Solberg said:
“I am really not happy with what happened this morning but that is a part of the game. We had a puncture on the second right-hand corner of the first stage and it really did lose us a lot of time by the end of it. It has been ok by the end of the loop but I just didn’t find a good rhythm this morning. We will change some things with the suspension and hopefully find a better feeling for the next loop.”
Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team Driver Jari-Matti Latvala said:
“It was difficult in the fog and I could have done better but I just couldn’t find my rhythm driving in the fog. We started off slowly but I really want to concentrate and improve my driving. Things did get much better on the next two stages though but I am still making some small mistakes and sliding too much in places. I don’t want to play a risky game so early in the rally.”
Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team Driver Matthew Wilson said:
“This morning was very tricky because sometimes the visibility was fine but other times you really couldn’t see anything which made it hard to pick the right braking points. Things got better though as the fog began to clear and it was really fun on that last stage with some big long slides and our time was pretty quick too. I’m feeling quite good at the moment and it’s great to be in a point scoring position but there is still a long way to go and a lot of tricky corners left in this rally.”
Leaderboard after SS3
1. M Hirvonen/J LehtinenFIN Ford Focus RS 38m 01.5sec
2. M Gronholm/T RautiainenFIN Ford Focus RS +21.4sec
3. S Loeb/D ElenaF Citroen C4 +22.4sec
4. J M Latvala/M AnttilaFIN Ford Focus RS +29.4sec
5. P Solberg/P Mills N Subaru Impreza +54.4sec
6. D Sordo/M Marti E Citroen C4 +59.9sec
7. C Atkinson/S Prevot AUS Subaru Impreza +1m17.2sec
8. M Wilson/M Orr GB Ford Focus RS +1m37.3sec
9. M Stohl/I Minor AUT Citroen Xsara +1m43.3sec
10. X Pons/X Amigo E Subaru Impreza +1m55.2sec
11. H Solberg/C Menkerud N Ford Focus RS +2m04.0sec