Kimi Räikkönen e o segundo dia na Turquia

Kimi Raikkonen makes up places in Turkey

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

The second day of the Rally of Turkey was the longest of the event. With some sections on asphalt and others 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 then had to sweep the road clean on gravel. Having set one fastest time in the morning, the number 7 C4 WRC 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 do my best and go as quickly as possible. On asphalt, I tried to make the difference. Looking back at everything, I think we came out of it quite well. We’re only at the halfway point of the rally and there are five drivers who can still win.”

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

Kimi Räikkönen and Kaj Lindström started the day in eighth place and used the first loop of stages to move up the leaderboard. By the end of SS10, the former F1 World Champion was already sixth overall.

“The Citroën C4 WRC always feels easy to drive,” said the Finn. “On the asphalt I was maybe a little too careful until I realised how much grip was available. I’m pleased with our pace: it was a good day without the slightest problem. The only thing was that I stalled twice in the same place on each of the loops of stages. We improved our pace in the afternoon. Tomorrow will be a new day where we will try to keep our position to the end.”

Benoit Nogier, the Citroën Junior Team Manager, said: “Sébastien was driving what was virtually a perfect rally. It’s disappointing that he was unable to keep fighting for victory all the way to the end, but the rally is far from over. Sébastien and Julien are fifth, which would still be a good result. This takes nothing away from the top performance they have been putting in since yesterday morning. Kimi is also making very good progress. He has managed to break away from the drivers he was fighting with at the start of this event. It’s all very encouraging.”

Fonte: Rally Buzz

Uma pena o que aconteceu com Ogier. Estava torcendo por um pódio dele depois do que houve na Jordânia.

E Iceman e Kaj estão de parabéns por mais um dia completado. Com competência, diga-se de passagem.

Beijinhos, Ice-Ludy