DANI SORDO WINS IN LAPLAND
author: Leon Botha
If Ford thought that Citroen would sit back and have another cocktail and catch a tan before the WRC season started, then the result of the 2010 Artic Lapland Rally would have woken them up.
Dani Sordo won the rally in Xmas Father land this weekend and Kimi Raikonen crashed out on day one after what the Citroen propaganda machine calls and impressive start. There is a claim that he would have finished 6 minutes behind Sordo had he not crashed?
I am not sure how they worked that out, but at least we know that he managed to post second fastest times throughout the event.
I tried to get some sense full information from the Finish (I think site) but all the "°°" and "˙ and ņ's" above the words caused havoc in my Sunday afternoon mind.
Raikkonen's co-driver Kaj Lindstrom commented that they were now only 0.9s per kilometer behind Sordo and that a few adjustments here and there would do the trick.
|
|
Kimi Raikkonen during Rally Lapland
|
"Kyllä, ja sitten sinun täytyy tappaa ero Sordo ja Sébastien Loeb" said I from the side of the scrum in my best Sunday Finish!
Translated into a more understandable English it would read something like this: "Yes and then you need to kill the difference between Sordo and Sébastien Loeb", said I from the side of the scrum!
Mr Kaj Visser Lindstrom went on to say that they knew exactly where the difference came from - "you wanna bet" said I and the continued by saying "
it's a relief.[the fact that they knew?] It would be different if you had to think to yourself that you are going damn fast but still be behind, that would be worrying." And needless to say I chipped in with a "and so say all of us!"
Jokes aside ("who is joking?" asked I) the Raikkonen team claimed to brake early (and I wondered what would have happened if the braked even later where they had the accident?) when there were ice and "that's where the differences in time come from".
That was when my head crinkles above my eyes drew so tight that I started hyperventilating!
Now "grappies really on a stokkie" that is Finnish Afrikaans - it seems if Kimi will not make a total fool of himself during the WRC season, but I have to tell him and the navigator that I am not so sure if many drivers are going to lie awake staring at the ceiling until the first rally, Rally Sweden kicks off?
You are now in Blue Bull world, my friend. Here you don't upset the people, they are upset already!
Arctic Lapland Rally 2010 Results
1. Dani Sordo/Marc Marti (E) Citroen C4 WRC 1:38.29,1 (1. A18)
2. Kosti Katajamäki/Lasse Hirvijärvi (FIN) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X +6.07,7
3. Jarkko Miettinen/Mikko Lukka (FIN) Skoda Fabia S2000 +7.16,1
4. Juha Salo/Mika Stenberg (FIN) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X +8.06,9
5. Kristian Sohlberg/Peter Flythström (FIN) Subaru Impreza WRX STI N15 +9.12,3
6. Ari Vihavainen/Antti Piira (FIN) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +9.40,6
7. Atte Alanen/Pasi Hedman (FIN) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +9.44,5
8. Tommi Luostarinen/Risto Pietiläinen (FIN) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +9.48,9
9. Jukka Ketomäki/Kai Risberg (FIN) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X +10.45,8
10. Marko Ipatti/Kari Kajula (FIN) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +10.46,9
|
|
