Image: ©willyweyens-rallyworld
Jari-Matti Latvala continues to lead Wales Rally GB 2008 after Day 2 by only 7.3s from Sebastien Loeb to set up a thrilling final day.
Latvala, though, had a scare before the final stage when the clutch overheated and he was forced to push the car 400 yards to get to the start of the test. Also, he had a slow puncture on the first stage of the day.
Latvala explains his clutch problem going into the Millennium Stadium Stage:
We got stuck in the traffic and with so much stop-start driving the clutch overheated. I got a little bit panicked then - I didn’t want to destroy the clutch because that would be the end of the rally.”
Loeb had a good day with his Citroen and must be happy to start second on the road for tomorrow. His team-mate Dani Sordo, who set a couple of fastest stage times this morning, is 3rd overnight to leave Citroen as clear favourites to pick up the manufacturers' title tomorrow.
Day 2 highlights
Atkinson's huge crash, Walters Arena Day 1, which he describes as the biggest of his career
In fourth was Petter Solberg 52s behind the leader, though he feels a push for the win is still possible tomorrow in his Subaru. Fifth is PG Andersson who is consolidating his performance from yesterday for Suzuki.
Henning Solberg lies sixth ahead of Francois Duval with Suzuki's Toni Gardemeister rounding off the points standings this evening. Mikko Hirvonen is ninth following his roll yesterday which virtually hands Citroen the title. Matt Wilson is the top Brit in 10th overall with Barry Clark 11th in their Stobart Focus'.
Loeb on Resolfen Day 2
Valentino Rossi made steady progress today to climb up to 15th overall despite a small off.
Rossi describes his indescretion:
It is so slippery and there was a lot of ice in SS14. We went too fast into a corner and overshot it which smashed the front of the car and cracked the windscreen. But it is OK."
Valentino Rossi Stobart Press Conference
Rossi in service
Notable retirements today included Day 1 young sensations Sebastien Ogier and Mads Ostberg. Ogier rolled his C4 on ss9 this morning while Ostberg, who had engine problems on SS9, slid off the road on SS14 and retired from fifth place. In the PWRC Evgeny Novikov retired his Mitsubishi with mechanical problems during the day.
BRC runner Mark Higgins rolled again today, when he was running under SupeRally rules, and is out of the second counting round this weekend. This leaves the way virtually clear for Wilks to lift the title come Sunday.
Myherin from yesterday
David Higgins takes a little excursion
Sandell
Deividas Jocius on Sweet Lamb yesterday
In the PWRC Patrik Flodin is in the lead at the end of the second day but had been pressured all day from Patrik Sandell in the 207 S2000. Aigner is a comfortable third and if he maintains this place he will win the title. Early leader Guy Wilks dropped to fourth as his Mitsubishi developed turbo problems today.
Rally GB's youngest ever competitor Tom Cave, who only passed his driving test the other week, lies a tremendous 32nd overall in his Fiesta ST.
Wales Rally GB 2008 Day 2 Results
1. Jari-Matti Latvala BP Ford Abu Dhabi Focus RS WRC 08 1hour 47mins 52.4secs M
2. Sebastien Loeb Citroen Total WRT C4 WRC +00mins 07.3secs M
3. Daniel Sordo Citroen Total WRT C4 WRC +00mins 27.9secs M
4. Petter Solberg Subaru WRT Impreza WRC 2008 +00mins 52.5secs M
5. Per-Gunnar Andersson Suzuki WRT SX4 WRC +02mins 06.1secs M
6. Henning Solberg Stobart VK Ford Focus WRC 07 +02mins 09.3secs A8
7. Francois Duval Stobart VK Ford Focus WRC 07 +02mins 29.6secs MT
8. Toni Gardemeister Suzuki WRT SX4 WRC +03mins 33.0secs M
9. Mikko Hirvonen BP Ford Abu Dhabi Focus RS WRC 08 04mins 44.5secs M
10. Matthew Wilson Stobart VK Ford Focus WRC 07 +04mins 49.5secs MT
11. Barry Clark Stobart VK Ford Focus WRC 07 +05mins 50.6secs A8
12. Patrick Flodin Subaru Impreza WRX STi +07mins 51.4secs P / B
13. Patrik Sandell Peugeot 207 S2000 +08mins 10.1secs P
14. Andreas Aigner Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +08mins 37.9secs P
15. Valentino Rossi Stobart VK Ford Focus WRC 07 +09mins 37.6secs A8
16. Khalid Al Qassimi BP Ford Abu Dhabi Focus RS WRC 08 +09mins 44.5secs A8
17. Guy Wilks Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +09mins 58.0secs P / B
18. Jari Ketomaa Subaru Impreza WRX STi +10mins 22.5secs P
19. Conrad Rautenbach PH Sport-Citroen C4 WRC +11mins 13.9secs A8
20. Mads Ostberg Adapta WRT Subaru WRC +11mins 52.7secs A8
PWRC Top Twenty Standings Day Two
1. Patrick Flodin Subaru Impreza WRX STi 1hour 54mins 42.4secs P / B
2. Patrik Sandell Peugeot 207 S2000 +00mins 18.7secs P
3. Andreas Aigner Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +00mins 46.5secs P
4. Guy Wilks Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +02mins 06.6secs P / B
5. Jari Ketomaa Subaru Impreza WRX STi +02mins 31.1secs P
6. Jaromir Tarabus Fiat Grande Punto S2000 +08mins 34.4secs P
7. Mirco Baldacci Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +17mins 32.7secs P
8. Spyros Pavlides Subaru Impreza WRX STi +17mins 34.3secs P
9. Armindo Araujo Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +26mins 27.4secs P
10. David Higgins Subaru Impreza WRX STi +30mins 30.9secs P / B
Photos from Day 1 and 2:
Images: ©willyweyens-rallyworld
Similar Posts:
- Wales Rally GB 2008 Day 3 Final Results, videos and photographs: Sebastien Loeb wins after final stage thriller with Latvala
- Wales Rally 2008 GB Results Day 1: Jari-Matti Latvala leads, Loeb second and Hirvonen roll Sweet Lamb 2 video
- Rally New Zealand 2008 Day 2 Results: Latvala leads as tactics come into play leaving four drivers in with a shout come the final day
