Day 3 standings - Rallye Monte Carlo

[kam_baker]

Sebastien Loeb is now well out front on the Monte - over 2 mins up on Mikko Hirvonen, who inherited second after Daniel Sordo was forced out; Chris Atkinson completes the podium - 20.1 secs up on Francois Duval...

Overall times after SS14 / Day 3 - Top 20:

1. Sebastien Loeb Citroen Total WRT C4 WRC 2hours 50mins 38.8secs M
2. Mikko Hirvonen BP Ford Focus RS WRC 07 +02mins 10.6secs M
3. Chris Atkinson Subaru WRT Impreza WRC 2007 +03mins 02.6secs M
4. Francois Duval Stobart Ford Focus WRC 07 +03mins 22.7secs M
5. Petter Solberg Subaru WRT Impreza WRC 2007 +04mins 11.8secs M
6. Gigi Galli Stobart Ford Focus WRC 07 +07mins 39.7secs M
7. Jean-Marie Cuoq Peugeot 307 WRC +08mins 19.7secs A8
8. P-G Andersson Suzuki WRT SX4 WRC +09mins 31.8secs M
9. Henning Solberg Stobart Ford Focus WRC 07 +11mins 17.0secs A8
10. Matthew Wilson Stobart Ford Focus WRC 07 +11mins 43.6secs A8
11. Daniel Sordo Citroen Total WRT C4 WRC +20mins 45.1secs M##
12. Ales Broccoli Renault Clio +22mins 19.8secs A7
13. Frederic Romeyer Peugeot 206 WRC +23mins 18.8secs A8
14. Jari-Matti Latvala BP Ford Focus RS WRC 07 +24mins 05.2secs M##
15. Patrick Artru Mitsubishi Lancer +24mins 24.4secs N4
16. Olivier Burri Subaru Impreza +24mins 37.1secs N4
17. Laurent Carbonaro Peugeot 307 WRC +24mins 40.6secs A8
18. Eddie Mercier Renault Clio +25mins 07.9secs A7
19. Ludovic Cluzel Mitsubishi Lancer +26mins 20.3secs N4
20. Luca Betti Honda Civic Type-R +28mins 22.0secs A7

Others:

21. Conrad Rautenbach Citroen Xsara WRC +28mins 41.8secs A8
23. Khalid Al-Qassimi BP Ford Focus RS WRC 07 +29mins 35.4secs A8

## Assumes they will be able to re-start on Sunday.

Notable retirements:

SS6. Khalid Al-Qassimi BP Ford Focus RS WRC 07 Went off the road. A8*
SS11. Daniel Sordo Citroen Total WRT C4 WRC Engine. M
SS12. Jari-Matti Latvala BP Ford Focus RS WRC 07 Suspension. M
SS14/SS15. Toni Gardemeister Suzuki WRT SX4 WRC Overheating/engine. M
* denotes elected/able to re-start under SupeRally format.
M - denotes Manufacturer entry.

Sebastien Loeb [Citroen Total WRT]:

"I really like the atmosphere on this rally. The spectators are exceptional. I will start managing my lead now but I am not in the most comfortable situation. However I am better off in my shoes rather than in Mikko's! Today's bad news was Dani's retirement because it has a negative impact on our result for the manufacturers' championship."

"This afternoon, I drove especially carefully on Saint Bonnet which was still damp. I'm glad the northern stages of this year's Monte Carlo Rally are behind us. We now head south for the last five tests which could still cause an upset or two."

[Speaking in the mid-day service] “As the sun came up, there were still patches of ice about. SS9 was a tricky stage and I did not take any risks. It was very foggy at the start of the next test. It's tough to loosen up completely when the conditions are like that. The first two stages kept us on our toes but the morning's last test was more straightforward and we tried to push hard in order to get a clearer picture of the way the Pirelli PZero tyre reacts on this sort of terrain. I feel great in the car, and I get a lot of pleasure."

Mikko Hirvonen [BP Ford Abu Dhabi WRT]:

"When I woke up this morning I was hoping that I could take second, but I didn't think it would happen like that. Dani's retirement really helped me and I want to keep this position now because the two extra points for second would be good. I hoped to be closer to Loeb's pace but that wasn't possible here. I was happy with Pirelli's tyres, they worked well in the cold, dry conditions. There are still four more stages to come tomorrow so I will try to keep the car on the road and take no risks because I have a good lead over Atkinson in third. I don't have huge experience of tomorrow's stages and I can expect anything on the Col de Turini. There is usually snow, ice or fog at the top and it is dry then black ice will be a concern, so it will be a tricky day,"

Chris Atkinson [Subaru WRT]:

"We were pushing today, and it was so tough! It's a bigger gap than I had here last year but the adrenaline and pressure is just the same. Some say that SS10 is the most dangerous stage as it's so fast and flowing, but I love it. I won the stage last year and on the second pass today I was pushing to increase the gap over Duval. I had a good feeling through there, but I was still buzzing half an hour afterwards. It's great to be in third, but we have some difficult stages tomorrow, especially the Col de Turini. It's a stage that can be dry until you start and then spectators put snow on the road which just makes it so hard to know what to expect going into each corner. Duval knows it a little better than I do, so it's going to be a challenge but for sure I want third and we'll be pushing hard to the end."

[Speaking in the mid-day service] “For sure it's good to be in third, but today showed how unpredictable this event can be. We've had good pace this morning, although I could have pushed a little harder in places, but there's still a long way to go and a lot of stages left. Duval will be fast this afternoon so we must keep pushing to stay ahead. It won't be easy but we've been in front of him all rally so far. We'll make some changes to the car during service as I was lacking some grip in the last stage, and we'll try to increase the gap again this afternoon.”

Francois Duval [Stobart VK M-Sport Ford WRT]:

"Today has went well and my feeling of the car has improved a lot and the slower stages feel really good; I think we can still improve on the fast sections. We are getting more used to the car every stage but I still think we need to be careful tomorrow. The gap ahead to Atkinson is too much for me to catch as the conditions on the stages tomorrow are likely to be tricky, especially if you are pushing."

[Speaking in the mid-day service] “We had some good times this morning especially on the last stage so things are getting better. The feeling can still get better with the car and we will make some small changes in service to try and help this. There is still more to come. I'm happy with my progress this morning.”

Petter Solberg [Subaru WRT]:

"Today has been pretty good for us again and we are in a good position. The roads started very slippery this morning but became more grippy this afternoon. It was tricky to get the balance of the car right and we changed a few things in the middle of the day, but I am happy with fifth and we will keep trying and see what we can do tomorrow. We've been pushing hard but it's so easy to make a mistake when the roads are this narrow and fast you have to be at 110 per cent. I'm looking forward to tackling the Col de Turini tomorrow, but we can expect a tough day. It's so tricky, anything can happen."

[Speaking in the mid-day service] “It's easy to make a mistake so we didn't take any unnecessary risks. The stages are very tricky today as they're narrow and very fast. We've had some good split times this morning, but I wasn't comfortable with the grip in the last stage [SS11] so we will make some changes for the afternoon.”

Gigi Galli [Stobart VK M-Sport Ford WRT]:

"I found the stages difficult this morning as the temperatures were low and the roads very slippery. It was better for me to slow down and be careful and not make any mistakes. The afternoon was better though and the car and tyres and me were working much better on the dryer roads. But still for me the plan is to finish this rally and come away with as much experience of this car as possible."

[Speaking in the mid-day service] “For me the most important thing is to get to the end of this event. Last year I had to prove myself in three events but now I have the whole year to learn about the car and push harder later in the year. I didn't sleep too well last night which didn't help me today but I am enjoying myself and learning every kilometre we travel.”

Per-Gunnar Andersson [Suzuki WRT]:

"I'm very pleased with the way that today went and I also think that I improved my driving technique a lot as well. I was doing a lot less braking today and using higher gears to carry some more momentum: that was where I made up the time. If we can carry on like this it would be fantastic, so I need to concentrate on getting to the finish now. But I have to say that today was even better than I expected."

Henning Solberg [Stobart VK M-Sport Ford WRT]:

"We lost some time this morning as I didn't have a good level of confidence and the feeling with the car wasn't perfect. We made some changes in service and the second loop of stages were much better; but I still don't have as much experience as the other drivers on tarmac and this is something I must remember. I am looking forward to the famous stages tomorrow but still concentrating on not making any mistakes."

[Speaking in the mid-day service] “The stages were very fast this morning and we just didn't have the confidence in the high speeds – with minus three temperatures and ice on the road its not good for the comfort level. The feeling wasn't great today on the cold roads so we will talk to the engineers and make some changes for this afternoon.”

Matthew Wilson [Stobart VK M-Sport Ford WRT]:

"I have really enjoyed today and I finished in quite a good mood. I am getting more and more confident each stage and this means I am starting to use the car and tyres much better. We are learning to keep more heat in the tyres in the damp and dirty conditions. I'm looking forward to the stages tomorrow and I think they will throw up some surprises of a different nature."

[Speaking in the mid-day service] “I am starting to get more confident now and the feeling with the car is much more positive. We had a good few stages this morning. The middle stage felt really good and it was probably the most difficult which is promising. This morning's stages have been fast, very fast, and quite a bit icy in places so it just reminds you that this event can catch you out very quickly indeed.”

Khalid Al Qassimi [BP Ford Abu Dhabi WRT]:

“We had some brake problems this morning and they returned this afternoon. The brake pedal was pumping up and this again didn't help with the confidence to push. Michael [Orr – my co-driver] and I had to bleed the brakes between each of the stages but we made it to the end of the day and I am sure the team will be able to repair the car for tomorrow's stages. I'm still here and learning all the time."
[Speaking in the mid-day service] "This morning was very tricky. I had little confidence in the conditions and was working to build it. The grip levels were constantly changing and that made things difficult. I had a half-spin in the last of the three stages and thought I would be able to just drive over the kerb. However, there were trees next to the road so I had to turn around. As the engine was hot, it stalled several times and we lost around 20-30 seconds."

Notable retirements:

Khalid Al Qassimi [BP Ford Abu Dhabi WRT]: [retired from day 2 in SS6 – went off the road – restarted under the SupeRally on day 3]
"This afternoon we were trying some different tactics and we had ninth in front of us and were chasing that position. We were doing well in the stage, if you look at the split times and ninth place looked achievable. Then, as we approached the flying finish of the stage, the final corner had gravel across it and the car simply broke away from me. We hit a rock by the side of the road and it took the left front suspension corner off the car. It's a shame but any driver in that situation would push to gain a place. However, something like this can happen at any time and it's all part of the learning process. As long as the car is repairable, we will try some new techniques tomorrow, to try to get closer to the pace of the other drivers."

[Speaking in the mid-day service] "The roads were damp, which made it slippery. Drivers ahead of us are cutting the corners and that drags dirt onto the roads. I still need to learn how Pirelli's tyres work and where the grip is because the grip level changes with every corner."

Daniel Sordo [Citroen Total WRT]: [retired from day 3 in SS11 – engine]

"The day started well enough. I was very pleased with the way my Citroën C4 WRC was performing and I tried to push without driving excessively quickly. The first two stages enabled us to increase our advantage over the crew following in third place, but then we had a scare with the engine on SS11 (Lamastre). I stopped to see if it was possible to repair but after a few minutes the team took the decision not to try to continue. I am obviously very disappointed not to be able to score big points for Citroën here this weekend."

Jari-Matti Latvala [BP Ford Abu Dhabi WRT]: [retired from day 3 in SS12 – suspension damage]

"I made some small changes to the differential set-up at the midday service and the stage started well. I felt confident with the car and my split times were good. About halfway through on a narrow road I came to a left hand corner and tried to follow the line of the cars ahead. I must have taken a slightly tighter line because I hit a concrete stone which broke the suspension. I drove on for another 500m until I found somewhere wide enough to stop."

[Speaking in the mid-day service] "I only had front-wheel drive and it was difficult to drive. The car was sideways a lot and the brakes were locking and at times it was very difficult to control. It was hard work but we will fix the problem in service and then the game will be back on again."

Toni Gardemeister [Suzuki WRT]: [retired from event after SS14 / in service G - overheating problems]

"It's disappointing to be forced into retirement, especially considering the fact that up until the end of it today was very good. The stages were well suited to the car, and while I'm sorry not to be able to finish the event, it has been a very positive experience for me and the whole team. We need to continue working hard to further improve our speed and reliability, but I have every confidence that we will get there."

Team principals:

Olivier Quesnel [Citroen Total WRT - team principal]:

"It's been a day of contrasting fortunes for us. Sebastien, Daniel and their Citroën C4 WRC once again showed their speed and superbly came through all the potential pitfalls unscathed. They will now need to put in the same sort of performance tomorrow and I am counting on their experience on Sunday's stages which include the Col du Turini where spectators have a habit of throwing snow onto the road. That creates an added difficulty which isn't in the pacenotes and can take the crews by surprise. I am delighted with Sébastien's day but it would have been nice to have seen Dani and Marc continue their perfectly-paced run, but turbo failure decided otherwise. After repairs, they will profit from the SupeRally ruling to re-start tomorrow morning. They are currently ninth in the classification for drivers eligible to score points and there's a chance they could finish in the points on Sunday afternoon."

Malcolm Wilson [BP Ford Abu Dhabi WRT - team director]:

"Mikko drove superbly to keep the pressure on Sordo this morning and kept out of trouble to move into second. I'm disappointed that Jari-Matti dropped out of the manufacturers' points but hopefully he can challenge again tomorrow. It will be a difficult day with some classic stages to come."

David Richards [Subaru WRT – team principal]:

"Both drivers performed exceptionally well today under very demanding conditions to consolidate their positions. Chris was rewarded with the only fastest stage time achieved by anyone other than last year's World Champions, and he's clearly set his heart on a podium finish. Petter drove extremely consistently and is ready to take advantage of any problems that the lead few cars encounter. The final day of competition without a full service will be very demanding, especially as it includes the famously challenging Col de Turini."

Malcolm Wilson [Stobart VK M-Sport Ford WRT - team boss]:

"It has been another great drama-free day for the Stobart team and especially for the point scoring crews. At the end of the day François is in a strong position to challenge for a podium finish tomorrow. It has been a good performance from Henning and Matthew and now we have four Stobart cars in the top eleven. None of the cars have had any problem either which is very positive."

Nobuhiro Tajima [Suzuki WRT - team boss]:

"Naturally we are all very pleased by the speed that P-G and Toni have shown today. However, it's important for us not to get carried away. There's still a long way to go * with the extremely challenging Col de Turini stages *and we have a lot of work left to carry out this year. After this rally, we will have some more ideas about where to focus our efforts in order to develop the car further and prevent problems such as the one we experienced with Toni recurring."