QUOTES FROM BLAIR ATHOLL SERVICE: CRONIN EXPLAINS HIS MORNING’S PROBLEMS

By Jim McGill

Press%20Conference1 QUOTES FROM BLAIR ATHOLL SERVICE: CRONIN EXPLAINS HIS MORNINGS PROBLEMS

QUOTES FROM BLAIR ATHOLL SERVICE:

Kris Meeke (Peugeot S2000), leading Wilks by 4.1s after Stage 4 at Blackcraig:
We had a niggly wee problem through this morning’s two stages. basically it was a tyre issue, I think we cut the grooves too much and basically they were overheating. I struggled with right-hand corners; just had no grip. I’m not concerned though, they’re just niggly issues and we’ve got the car back to service so the guys will have a look and we’ll get everything ship-shape for this afternoon. We’ve got Drummond Hill this afternoon and that caught me out last year in the McRae stages, so at least i know where the difficult bit is and where I need to take it easy. The car though, apart from the tyre issue, is working perfectly but that car’s a so fine-tuned it only takes the slightest little problem to cause you to lose a bit of confidence in the car.

Guy Wilks (Skoda S2000), lying second overall after Stage 4 at Blackcraig:
I love the car and though we’re still learning about it, it’s bloody quick. I’m happy with where we are, pushing Kris after two stages, but there’s a long way to go so we’re not getting carried away. I think we’ve paced ourselves through the opening couple of stages, which have been muddy beyond belief. Some of the guys running ahead of us, the way they’ve been cutting the corners they’ve been kicking rocks the size of houses into the stage. There’s definitely been an advantage being first on the road.

Alister McRae (Proton S2000), lying third overall after Stage 4 at Blackcraig:
Running first on the stages this morning has been very difficult. Just haven’t had a clue how much grip there was; a journey of discovery basically. There’s a long way to go, but we’re relatively happy with where we are. To be honest, I’ve probably been a bit too conservative and with hindsight I could have pushed a bit harder. I was pretty committed through today’s opening stage at Craigvinean, but I backed off too much through Blackcraig.
This afternoon we’ll pick the pace up and push as hard as we can, but it’s still very, very easy to make a mistake. It’s difficult to read the roads because it’s so wet. Suddenly you’ll find the car has been pitched sideways and you’re grabbing a handful of opposite lock. Great fun though, and I can’t wait for Drummond Hill this afternoon.

Press%20Conference13 QUOTES FROM BLAIR ATHOLL SERVICE: CRONIN EXPLAINS HIS MORNINGS PROBLEMS

Keith Cronin (Abarth Punto S2000), 32nd overall after Stage 4 at Blackcraig:
We got a puncture early in the first stage this morning and it spun us into a ditch. It took us ages to get out and we dropped 44 minutes, so essentially our rally challenge is finished, which is a pity. But we’ve got the car sorted and working again and we were 11th-quickest through today’s second stage. I’m still learning about the car, but we’ll take full advantage of it over the next 24 hours and fight our way back up the leaderboard.