Rally of Turkey Latest

[rdjones]

Well the WRC boys are back in action this weekend at the Rally of Turkey. The current top 10 after 3 stages looks like this:-


1 S Loeb Fr Citroen 51:00.3
2 M Gronholm Fin Peugeot 51:14.5
3 P Solberg Nor Subaru 51:16.4
4 C Sainz Sp Citroen 51:59.0
5 M Hirvonen Fin Subaru 52:01.7
6 F Duval Bel Ford 52:13.8
7 M Martin Est Ford 52:15.3
8 G Panizzi Fr M'subishi 52:32.3
9 H Rovanpera Fin Peugeot 53:44.6
10 J Tuohino Fin Ford 53:02.4

Data from BBC Sport Online.

[BertMk2]

The usual supspects at the top again then

martin seems to be further down the field than I'd expect, has he had problems or is he just off the pace?

[Kicking-back]

He's only two seconds behind his team-mate.

[rdjones]

It is looking as if it is the usally supspects again. Martin was quickest on the first stage but now seems to have slipped back.

[rdjones]

5 Stages gone now, doesn't look like much has changed:-

1 S Loeb Fr Citroen 1:28:48.1
2 M Gronholm Fin Peugeot 1:29:01.2
3 P Solberg Nor Subaru 1:29:37.8
4 C Sainz Sp Citroen 1:29:45.8
5 F Duval Bel Ford 1:30:00.9
6 H Rovanpera Fin Peugeot 1:30:26.5
7 M Hirvonen Fin Subaru 1:30:53.2
8 J Tuohino Fin Ford 1:31:54.7
9 M Martin Est Ford 1:32:28.7
10 H Solberg Nor Peugeot 1:32:46.5

[Kicking-back]

Gronholm quickest on SS6 - the gap is down to just 6 seconds behind Loeb.

One more stage today - a superspecial this evening.

[Kicking-back]

Marko Martin is out - the focus stalled in a watersplash and would not refire.

[rdjones]

Looks like we are going to be in for an interesting weekend. We shall see what happens, but IMO it going to be a fight between Loeb and Gronholm. Also remember that Peugeot are still looking for there first victory with the 307.

[Kicking-back]

If Loeb and Gronholm get sucked into battle and over do it, a steadier approach by Solberg or Sainz could pay dividends.

Particularly in the Turkish heat.

[rdjones]

All change at the top of the leaderboard this morning:-

1 M Gronholm Fin Peugeot 2:40:56.0
2 S Loeb Fr Citroen 2:41:02.9
3 P Solberg Nor Subaru 2:41:53.2
4 F Duval Bel Ford 2:42:02.3
5 C Sainz Sp Citroen 2:42:15.1
6 H Rovanpera Fin Peugeot 2:42:41.1
7 M Hirvonen Fin Subaru 2:44:19.6
8 M Tuohino Jpn Subaru 2:46:27.2
9 H Solberg Nor Peugeot 2:48:47.5
10 H Yazici Jpn Ford 2:51:06.1

Gronholm now leads and Petter is catch Loeb.

Edit:- Loeb got a 10-second penalty for jumping the start of stage 9.

[rdjones]

12 Stages gone now and the top 10 looks like this:-

1 S Loeb Fr Citroen 3:35:46.0
2 M Gronholm Fin Peugeot 3:36:02.0
3 P Solberg Nor Subaru 3:36:41.5
4 H Rovanpera Fin Peugeot 3:37:39.3
5 C Sainz Sp Citroen 3:37:50.9
6 F Duval Bel Ford 3:39:47.9
7 M Hirvonen Fin Subaru 3:40:16.6
8 M Tuohino Fin Ford 3:43:46.9
9 H Solberg Nor Peugeot 3:46:22.1
10 M Warmbold Swe Ford 3:50:06.7

So Loeb is back in the lead.

[429CJ]

Rovanperä lost his gearbox, he's out.
Also freak incident for Grönholm's co-driver Timo Rautiainen: something, probably a steel bar made a hole in the bottom of the car, pierced the seat and bruised his "behind" on the stage 11.

[Kicking-back]

End of Day 2:


1. Sebastien Loeb 3:50:09.3
2. Marcus Gronholm 15.9 seconds behind
3. Petter Solberg +50.4
4. Carlos Sainz +2:15.9
5. Francois Duval +4:14.8
6. Mikko Hirvonen +5:01.4
7. Janne Tuohino +8:42.2
8. Henning Solberg +11:23.6
9. Antony Warmbold +15:31.6
10. Serkan Yazici +16:25.9

[Dani Filth]

loeb is looking better and better with every stage he completes .. go Loeb

[Kicking-back]

Loeb wins ahead of Gronholm and Solberg.

[429CJ]

On JWRC Suzuki was unbeatable, taking the whole podium:

1. Per-Gunnar ANDERSSON SWE Suzuki
2. Kosti KATAJAMÄKI FIN Suzuki +6.4 sec
3. Guy WILKS GBR Suzuki +57.6 sec

French Nicolas Bernardi leads the series with 18 points, Guy Wilks trailing only 2 points behind, Estonian Urmo Aava is third with 12 p.

[garcon]

Somehow, this rally's completely passed me by.

Good win for Loeb. Things are getting a little more stretched at the top of the leaderboard now...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/moto...gs/default.stm