Wales Rally 2008 GB Results Day 1: Jari-Matti Latvala leads, Loeb second and Hirvonen roll Sweet Lamb 2 video
Jari-Matti Latvala, in the Ford Focus RS WRC, took the overnight lead of Wales Rally GB on what turned out to be a very shortened first day due to the adverse conditions.
The weather conditions were particularly bad and Day 1 had to have its route shortened dramatically by the organisers. Both Hafren stages had to be cancelled as a consequence and all other stages were shortened except for Walters Arena.
Sebastien Loeb climbed up from fifth place to second by the end of the day in his Citroen C4 WRC, while PG Andersson claimed a great third spot for Suzuki who have yet to confirm a programme for 2009.
Another person to shine on day one was Norwegian driver Mads Ostberg who had been second for a while and came in fourth at the day's close. Petter Solberg, in fifth, stated that he was hanging back in his Subaru for a better road position to attack from tomorrow
Latvala aims to win the rally as he explained to wrc.com:
It’s been a long, long day, and the conditions have been extreme but at the same time it’s been very satisfying. I want to look for the win now, because we know that the manufacturers’ championship isn’t so realistic any more after Mikko had a little off. But these things happen - Mikko was a bit unlucky. We’ll try and get the win from the rally now. I hope this was the most difficult day of this rally.”
Mikko Hirvonen had a torrid time with his road position near the front leaving him well off the pace, then he suffered a roll on Sweet Lamb 2 which cost him around four minutes and any hopes of victory.
Chris Atkinson, meanwhile, suffered a huge crash on the first corner of SS8 Walters Arena. He and co-driver Stephane Prevot were uninjured but Chris was air-lifted to hospital for precautionary checks.
Loeb describes the problems with the tyres:
The start of SS6 was even delayed because of a hailstorm! Our hard compound tyres weren't exactly in their element in the mud and couldn't provide enough grip. We aren't allowed to re-cut the tread patterns either, so we couldn't get extra grip that way. All in all, though, I think we came through the day fairly well..."
Early leader Sebastien Ogier, who set fastest time on his first ever competitive stage in a World Rally Car, lost time with gearbox problems and a spin to see him drop back to 8th overall in the C4. Valentino Rossi ended the day in 23rd place in the Stobart Ford Focus WRC.
Valentino Rossi commented that he was enjoying himself:
The condition of the stages this afternoon were bad with the fog and rain but not as bad as the ice from the morning. We improved very much our stage times from the first pass so that has been a very positive improvement. The longer stages are better for me as I can get into a good rhythm and it starts to feel quite good; the car is really fun to drive."
Guy Wilks ended the day leading the PWRC and winning the first BRC round (day 2 and 3 count as the final BRC round) in 13th place overall with Patrik Flodin just behind.
PWRC points leader Juho Hanninen retired on SS6 with a blown engine and must now wait anxiously to see where title rival Andreas Aigner finishes. Aigner is currently third which would be enough for him to win the title on a tie break if he finished there.
Videos below of Hirvonen roll and crash on Sweet Lamb
Atkinson's destroyed car
Day 1 footage from Myherin
Sweet Lamb
Hirvonen onboard Shakedown
Top Twenty Results Day 1 Wales Rally GB 2008
1. Jari-Matti Latvala BP Ford Abu Dhabi Focus RS WRC 08 31mins 20.5secs M
2. Sebastien Loeb Citroen Total WRT C4 WRC +00mins 12.9secs M
3. Per-Gunnar Andersson Suzuki WRT SX4 WRC +00mins 22.5secs M
4. Mads Ostberg Adapta WRT Subaru WRC +00mins 24.0secs A8
5. Petter Solberg Subaru WRT Impreza WRC 2008 +00mins 27.4secs M
6. Daniel Sordo Citroen Total WRT C4 WRC +00mins 32.2secs M
7. Francois Duval Stobart VK Ford Focus WRC 07 +00mins 52.0secs MT
8. Sebastien Ogier PH Sport-Citroen C4 WRC +00mins 54.8secs A8
9. Henning Solberg Stobart VK Ford Focus WRC 07 +01mins 04.7secs A8
10. Matthew Wilson Stobart VK Ford Focus WRC 07 +01mins 33.0secs MT
11. Toni Gardemeister Suzuki WRT SX4 WRC +01mins 47.3secs M
12. Barry Clark Stobart VK Ford Focus WRC 07 +01mins 51.5secs A8
13. Guy Wilks Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +02mins 06.4secs P / B
14. Patrick Flodin Subaru Impreza WRX STi +02mins 35.8secs P / B
15. Conrad Rautenbach PH Sport-Citroen C4 WRC +02mins 47.0secs A8
16. Andreas Aigner Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +02mins 47.2secs P
17. Evgeny Novikov Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +03mins 02.5secs P
18. David Higgins Subaru Impreza WRX STi +03mins 03.3secs P / B
19. Patrik Sandell Peugeot 207 S2000 +03mins 12.5secs P
20. Mirco Baldacci Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +03mins 16.8secs P
PWRC Top Ten standings Day One
1. Guy Wilks Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 33mins 26.9secs P / B
2. Patrick Flodin Subaru Impreza WRX STi +00mins 29.4secs P / B
3. Andreas Aigner Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +00mins 40.8secs P
4. Evgeny Novikov Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +00mins 56.1secs P
5. David Higgins Subaru Impreza WRX STi +00mins 56.9secs P / B
6. Patrik Sandell Peugeot 207 S2000 +01mins 06.1secs P
7. Mirco Baldacci Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +01mins 10.4secs P
8. Jari Ketomaa Subaru Impreza WRX STi +01mins 54.3secs P
9. Bernardo Sousa Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +02mins 05.2secs P
10. Nasser Al-Attiyah Subaru Impreza WRX STi +02mins 50.9secs P
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