WRC - Again cmon fellas let's do this :) (2 Viewers)
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Day One: Life inside the goldfish bowl
Finland · Ford · Markko Märtin · 08/08/2003 18:09:06
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Conclusion? It’s just too close to call. Markko Martin now leads Marcus Gronholm by a fraction over 2.5 seconds, while the battle behind Richard Burns in third has got some good potential as well.
Marcus had a big scare on SS8 when he hit a rock, but that hasn’t appeared to dent his confidence. Certainly though, the reigning World Champion was showing the strain slightly when he rolled his Peugeot into final service.
“We just have to do what we can tomorrow,” he said. “It will be tough – very tough – but I always said it would.” And for once even the great Gronholm was showing a bit of fatigue.
Before the rally, he admitted that Finland was always a tiring event for him. Everyone wants a piece of Marcus Gronholm: the requests for pictures and autographs never seem to stop. Fundamentally, Marcus doesn’t like this; or rather he finds it slightly bizarre. But the net effect is the same – it’s like being a goldfish in a bowl.
Markko Martin is also learning a bit about what it’s like to be under the spotlight. Sometimes it looks like there are more Estonians than Finns out on the stages, judging by the number of frantically waved flags. The pressure is on him, but so far he’s absorbed it like a sponge.
That’s probably the most impressive aspect of Markko’s performance so far here. It takes big balls to resist the stress of having three-time Rally Finland winner Marcus Gronholm breathing down your neck. Yet somehow he’s done it with not the slightest mistake.
In fact, Marcus has even been unluckier, trying harder, or more prone to mishaps today. There was that odd choice of tyres in the middle loop of stages and the incident with the rock on SS8 really shook him up.
But tomorrow is when the pressure-cooker really warms up. Facing the crews are seven classic Finland stages, including two runs over the famous Ouninpohja. Carlos Sainz, the most experienced driver in world rallying, had this to say about it. “I don’t know how many times I’ve driven over Ouninpohja, but it’s certainly been many. What’s for sure is that in all my years of trying I’ve never driven it perfectly.”
That’s the sort of challenge in store for Markko and Marcus. Enjoy.
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Finland · Ford · Markko Märtin · 08/08/2003 18:09:06
[size=1.5]
Conclusion? It’s just too close to call. Markko Martin now leads Marcus Gronholm by a fraction over 2.5 seconds, while the battle behind Richard Burns in third has got some good potential as well.
Marcus had a big scare on SS8 when he hit a rock, but that hasn’t appeared to dent his confidence. Certainly though, the reigning World Champion was showing the strain slightly when he rolled his Peugeot into final service.
“We just have to do what we can tomorrow,” he said. “It will be tough – very tough – but I always said it would.” And for once even the great Gronholm was showing a bit of fatigue.
Before the rally, he admitted that Finland was always a tiring event for him. Everyone wants a piece of Marcus Gronholm: the requests for pictures and autographs never seem to stop. Fundamentally, Marcus doesn’t like this; or rather he finds it slightly bizarre. But the net effect is the same – it’s like being a goldfish in a bowl.
Markko Martin is also learning a bit about what it’s like to be under the spotlight. Sometimes it looks like there are more Estonians than Finns out on the stages, judging by the number of frantically waved flags. The pressure is on him, but so far he’s absorbed it like a sponge.
That’s probably the most impressive aspect of Markko’s performance so far here. It takes big balls to resist the stress of having three-time Rally Finland winner Marcus Gronholm breathing down your neck. Yet somehow he’s done it with not the slightest mistake.
In fact, Marcus has even been unluckier, trying harder, or more prone to mishaps today. There was that odd choice of tyres in the middle loop of stages and the incident with the rock on SS8 really shook him up.
But tomorrow is when the pressure-cooker really warms up. Facing the crews are seven classic Finland stages, including two runs over the famous Ouninpohja. Carlos Sainz, the most experienced driver in world rallying, had this to say about it. “I don’t know how many times I’ve driven over Ouninpohja, but it’s certainly been many. What’s for sure is that in all my years of trying I’ve never driven it perfectly.”
That’s the sort of challenge in store for Markko and Marcus. Enjoy.
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This has been a fantastic day for rally as Marko has been able to keep Marcus in check and looks really relaxed. Meanwhile Mr. Consistency aka Richard Burns hangs patiently in 3rd ready to take over if the top two falter. Another battle has sufficed for the 4th, 5th & 6th position with the Citroens of McRae & Sainz sandwiching Solberg's Subaru who has reduced the gap to less than a second from McRae.
Tomorrow promises to be a mouthwatering day so keep em eyes peeled.
Tomorrow promises to be a mouthwatering day so keep em eyes peeled.
DAY 2
Need for more speed seems to be the case but the price is hefty for Marcus Gronholm & Colin McRae. The former broke his suspension and a wheel came off 5 kms to the end of the famous Ouninpohja stage while the latter was slapped a 1 minute penalty for jumping the start on the same stage.
Meanwhile King Carlos has steadily lifted his game and has crept to 3rd after SS15. It seems likely that a non-Scandinavian driver will win in Finland for the only the 3rd time in it's history unless Petter Solberg comes out big in the next stages which is highly unlikely as the Subaru has clearly lacked pace compared to the Peugeots & Citroens. Standings as at SS15.
1. M MÄRTIN 2:02:48.4
2. R BURNS +13.1
3. C SAINZ +1:06.5
4. P SOLBERG +1:12.8
5. C MCRAE +1:35.0
6. S LOEB +1:49.6
7. T MÄKINEN +2:23.1
8. J TUOHINO +2:54.7
9. S LINDHOLM +3:09.7
10. J PYKÄLISTÖ +3:33.4
Need for more speed seems to be the case but the price is hefty for Marcus Gronholm & Colin McRae. The former broke his suspension and a wheel came off 5 kms to the end of the famous Ouninpohja stage while the latter was slapped a 1 minute penalty for jumping the start on the same stage.
Meanwhile King Carlos has steadily lifted his game and has crept to 3rd after SS15. It seems likely that a non-Scandinavian driver will win in Finland for the only the 3rd time in it's history unless Petter Solberg comes out big in the next stages which is highly unlikely as the Subaru has clearly lacked pace compared to the Peugeots & Citroens. Standings as at SS15.
1. M MÄRTIN 2:02:48.4
2. R BURNS +13.1
3. C SAINZ +1:06.5
4. P SOLBERG +1:12.8
5. C MCRAE +1:35.0
6. S LOEB +1:49.6
7. T MÄKINEN +2:23.1
8. J TUOHINO +2:54.7
9. S LINDHOLM +3:09.7
10. J PYKÄLISTÖ +3:33.4
DAY 3
Markko Martin is untouchable as he wins his second WRC rally while Petter Solberg wins the thriller between him, Burns & Sainz. What a finish to the Finnish event!
1. M MÄRTIN 3:21:51.7
2. P SOLBERG +58.9
3. R BURNS +1:00.1
4. C SAINZ +1:59.0
5. S LOEB +2:48.7
6. T MÄKINEN +3:25.2
7. J TUOHINO +4:22.9
8. S LINDHOLM +4:39.5
9. J PYKÄLISTÖ +6:23.4
10. F LOIX +8:19.9
Markko Martin is untouchable as he wins his second WRC rally while Petter Solberg wins the thriller between him, Burns & Sainz. What a finish to the Finnish event!
1. M MÄRTIN 3:21:51.7
2. P SOLBERG +58.9
3. R BURNS +1:00.1
4. C SAINZ +1:59.0
5. S LOEB +2:48.7
6. T MÄKINEN +3:25.2
7. J TUOHINO +4:22.9
8. S LINDHOLM +4:39.5
9. J PYKÄLISTÖ +6:23.4
10. F LOIX +8:19.9
