WRC
Tänak on the attack, Neuville on the inside: “Not the kind of day we like”
Shaken, Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja, after their spectacular flight in Monte-Carlo ? Que nenni ! Les Estoniens ont été totalement à l’aise à bord de leur Hyundai i20 Coupe lors de la première étape du Rally of Sweden 2020, and took the opportunity to set two best times.
Les porteurs du n°1 ont par ailleurs profité d’un calage de Kalle Rovanperä (Toyota) For finish Friday in second place, 8”5 behind leader Elfyn Evans (Toyota). “The conditions were almost identical to the reconnaissance, so we had a good idea of what awaited us”, indicated Ott Tänak, although disadvantaged by a poor starting order.
“The start was pretty good. In the first special, especially the gravel, it was good. I felt comfortable in the car but a little less so on icy passages. With only one day of testing with Hyundai before this event, I wasn't fully pumped from the start, but it's coming little by little. »
On their side, Thierry Neuville and Nicolas Gilsoul endured the tough role of sweeping the course as winner at Monte-Carlo. Result, the Belgians are only sixth, behind Esapekka Lappi (Ford) but ahead of their teammate Craig Breen, which is not likely to increase the pace to overwhelm them.
Evening service has started @HMSGOfficial #WRC #RallySweden #i20WRC Cup pic.twitter.com/Wj42MmXUMA
— Thierry Neuville (@thierryneuville) February 14, 2020
“We had a day without problems, without errors, commented Thierry Neuville. I am not very happy with our position in the general classification but I am more so with our work and our speed. We can't do better.
This morning, the layers of ice were very thin, and the gravel was already appearing, which provided more grip for the competitors behind us. There were also a lot of “cuts” in the corners, although I was the first to discover them. »
The Belgian does not think he can move up much in the hierarchy between now and the final finish. “This rally is very short (10 special stages. Editor’s note), it will be impossible to make up for all the time lost (23''6), but we will attack to see what we can accomplish tomorrow. »
The main team Andrew Adam didn't have a big smile on his face in the Torsby service park. “It's not the kind of day we enjoy. The starting positions and the weather conditions were not favorable for us, but that is not an excuse for everything. »
Medhi Casaurang
Passionate about the history of motorsport across all disciplines, I learned to read thanks to AUTOhebdo. At least that's what my parents tell everyone when they see my name inside!
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