2005
WRC STANDING:
before rally
1 Loeb 83
2 Gronholm 55
3 Solberg 53
4 Martin 48
5 Gardemeister 47
6 Rovanpera 22
Stohl 12
Sainz 11
Kresta 10
H. Solberg 9
Panizzi 7
Duval 6
Hirvonen 4
Carlsson 4
Warmbold 4
Galli 3
Atkinson 2
Galli 2
MANUFACTURERS
Citroen 96
Peugeot 90
Ford 62
Subaru 54
Mitsubishi 41
Skoda 8
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RALLY
FINLAND - "Finnish Grand Prix"
-
Started
as "1000 Lakes Rally"; first race in 1951
-
22
special stages; total 382.71km
-
SURFACE:
Fast smooth gravel
-
TRACK:
wide and flowing roads; big jumps
-
SPEED:
fast; av speed of 122 kph by Gronholm in 2002
-
2004
winner: Marcus
Gronholm , Peugeot 307 WRC
-
2003
winner: Markko Martin Ford Focus RS WRC
-
2002
winner: Marcus Gronholm(FIN), Peugeot
-
2001
winner: Marcus Gronholm(FIN), Peugeot
-
2000
winner: Marcus Gronholm(FIN), Peugeot
-
Non
scandinavian winners: Sainz, 1990; Auriol, 1992; Martin, 2003
- 2004 RESULT
- 1 Marcus Gronholm
, FIN, Peugeot 307 WRC
- 2 Markko
Martin , EST, Ford Focus RS WRC +34.7s
- 3 Carlos Sainz
, SPA, Citroen Xsara +1m 44
- 4 Sebastien Loeb
, Citroen Xsara +2m 23
- 5 Janne Tuohino
, Ford Focus RS WRC +2m 36
- 2005 RALLY
ROUTE:
- 3 LEGS
- 21 special stages
- Thu Super Special
Stage at Killeri horsetrotting track
- 355km competitiom
- BEFORE RALLY:
- LOEB:
"I really want to win this rally. It's
a legendary event that very few non-Finns have won and I'm on a good
run at the moment"
- GRONHOLM:
"Our main rival (Loeb) has been so strong that he even
seems capable of beating us on our home event ... Every year, I feel
unbeatable going into 'my' rally, but I get the feeling we'll need to
be particularly strong."
RALLY
RESULT: FINLAND
FINAL,
LEG 3, SUN, AUG 7, 2005
-
1
Marcus Gronholm (FIN) Peugeot 307 WRC
-
2
Sebastien Loeb (FRA) Citroen Xsara WRC +1m 1.9s
"We
gave him (Gronholm) a very close run and we come away with eight
valuable points. In championship terms, this is an excellent
result. but it's not a victory. Whenever a winning run like
this comes to an end - even if you know it will stop one day
- is bound to be a little bit sad. That said, I am very happy
and proud to have been able to take the fight to Marcus over
stages he has competed on every year since 1989. You have to
know when to accept being beaten by an opponent of his calibre
on his home ground. We put in a very good run. and he put in
a flawless performance."
-
3
Markko Martin (EST) Peugeot 307 WRC +1m 35
"I'm
very pleased - not so much with third place but more with the
fact that we have been in a genuinely competitive situation
here in Finland. This is down to many things, but above all
the adjustments to the suspension have helped me a lot. For
the first time I felt really confident with the car, and if
we keep working hard and going down the correct route I am sure
that there will be more good results to
follow this."
-
4
Petter Solberg (NOR) Subaru Impreza WRC +2m 8
"It's a disappointing result, but after the bad
landing on Friday and the split brake pipe yesterday I have
to be happy with fourth. I tried to push so hard and we made
a number of changes to improve the set-up yesterday and today.
I was happier with how we finished today and after a quick break
I'm going to be working hard, as I want so much to be back on
top again, it's been too long now. We're going to do some very
intensive testing before Germany and I know the car will have
lots of new parts for the rally. You can be sure I'm not giving
up and so I'm looking forward to getting out there again."
- 5 Mikko
Hirvonen Ford Focus +2m 13
"It's
a great result both for me and the team. The fight today with Petter
was one of the best battles of my career. The team sent us Petter's
split times during the stages so I knew exactly what I had to do,
but unfortunately I couldn't quite manage it. It has been a fantastic
opportunity to drive for the Ford team and the pace has been
high all weekend. Before the rally started my target was to set
times that were close to Marcus Grönholm and Sebastien Loeb
and I achieved that."
- 6 Toni
Gardemeister Ford Focus WRC
"I
attacked hard on the first two stages and that was enough to get
by Rovanperä. After that I was able to cruise because he was
too far back to worry me. The roads were quite wet today and I had
a tyre vibration on the second stage so I drove carefully to avoid
any problems - fast but safe. I'm pleased to score points for Ford
but disappointed from a personal view. Until yesterday evening,
I was comfortable in fourth."
- 7 Harri
Rovanpera, Mitsubishi Lancer WRC
- 8 Francois
Duval, Citroen
- 9 Henning
Solberg, Ford
- 10
Janne Tuohino, Skoda
- 11 A. Schwarz
, Skoda
- 12 X. Pons
, Citroen
- 13 K. Kuistila
, Mitsubishi
- 14 A. Teiskonen
, Subaru
- Marcus Gronholm
claimed an emphatic victory in Rally Finland, his fifth victory
on home soil and first win since this event in 2004. The Finn dominated
and finally puts an end to Sebastien Loeb's clean sweep of victories
which began in New Zealand, in April. The French Citroen driver
nevertheless retains his commanding lead of the series, having finished
second in a rain-drenched Jyvaskyla this afternoon. Peugeot had
double cause for celebration with Markko Martin on the podium in
third and the the French team narrowly moves to the head of the
FIA World Rally Championship for Manufacturers. Petter Solberg,
after a trouble-free leg, finished fourth and Mikko Hirvonen, registered
in Ford's second Focus, claimed fifth ahead of regular driver Toni
Gardemeister. The only leading retirement of the leg was Christopher
Atkinson, the Subaru driver out with an engine problem at the end
of SS 19.
-
1
Marcus Gronholm (FIN) Peugeot 307 WRC
"It's been a very good day, although I could not
have expected to have a lead of a minute by the end of today!
Actually that does not change things so much as we have been
fast all day and I think we know that the speed is there. Our
tyre choice this morning was perfect for Ouninpohja, and we
had no problems at all. However there are still four stages
run together tomorrow without service so we have to stay concentrated.
Anything can still happen."
-
2
Sebastien Loeb (FRA) Citroen Xsara WRC +1m 7s
"I gave it everything I could. There was nothing
I could do. Marcus was faster. Tomorrow, without taking any
risks, I will try to keep Markko Märtin at bay with a view
to scoring as many points as possible for myself and Citroën."
-
3
Markko Martin (EST) Peugeot 307 WRC +1m 42
"It's been another good run through the stages
today: this is definitely the best rally of my year so far.
I've got confidence in the handling of the car now and of course
the engine is very good, which has allowed us to set some fast
times. We've moved ahead of the battle we were in with Toni
Gardemeister and Petter Solberg so tomorrow our plan is to drive
for a podium finish."
-
4
Petter Solberg (NOR) Subaru Impreza WRC +2m 22
"It was good to see the car look like new again after all
the work the team did last night. But today was so difficult
as we've been looking for the right set up for the conditions.
Sometimes that's just how it is. Just before the long stage
today we tried some damper changes to get more traction, but
I found that it made the car slide so much and we lost a lot
of grip. Then, on the last stage, we tried some new changes
and that was so much better. I think we'll keep the same setting
for tomorrow. We'll keep trying with the four stages left, but
it's a short day and the aim is to keep winning the fight for
fourth."
- 5 Mikko
Hirvonen Ford Focus +2m 25
"Yesterday was a medium plus day for me, this morning
was a medium minus but this afternoon I was back to a medium plus
again. I compared my times with Toni and Petter and I won a second
here, and lost a second there, so it was up and down all day. Before
the rally I thought that if I was going to lose time it would be
today, but that wasn't the case."
- 6 Harri
Rovanpera, Mitsubishi Lancer WRC
- 7 Toni
Gardemeister Ford Focus
"The
speeds were higher today than I've ever known. I think I pushed
too hard in Ouninpohja this morning, going sideways too much and
losing time. My tyre choice was too soft for the repeat stages there
this afternoon and they started to move around a bit. The road surface
was cleaner and I tried to drive more smoothly than this morning
but it didn't make any difference to my times"
- 8 F
Duval, Citroen
- 9 H Solberg,
Ford
-
LEG
1, FRI, AUG 5, 2005
-
1
Marcus Gronholm (FIN) Peugeot 307 WRC
-
2
Sebastien Loeb (FRA) Citroen Xsara WRC +5.8s
-
3
Markko Martin (EST) Peugeot 307 WRC +47.4
-
4
Toni Gardemeister Ford Focus +51.9
-
5
Petter Solberg (NOR) Subaru Impreza WRC +52
-
6
Mikko Hirvonen Ford Focus +1m 11.8
-
7
Harri Rovanpera, Mitsubishi Lancer WRC 1m 53
-
-
-
- SUPER SPECIAL STAGE
-
1.
Petter Solberg (NOR) Subaru Impreza WRC
2. Harri Rovanpera (FIN) Mitsubishi Lancer WRC + 0.6s
3. Armin Schwarz (GER) Skoda Fabia WRC +0.7
4. Marcus Gronholm (FIN) Peugeot 307 WRC +0.7
5. Gianluigi Galli (ITA) Mitsubishi Lancer WRC +0.8
6. Sebastien Loeb (FRA) Citroen Xsara WRC +0.8
7. Sebastian Lindholm (FIN) Peugeot 307 WRC
8. Markko Martin (EST) Peugeot 307 WRC
9. Henning Solberg (NOR) Ford Focus WRC
10. Jani Paasonen (FIN) Skoda Fabia WRC
RALLY
PREVIEW:
CITROEN
PEUGEOT
SUBARU FORD
SKODA MITSUBISHI
FORD
- Toni
Gardemeister: "Monte
Carlo and Finland are the two rallies where a top result is special,
and, being a Finn, it would mean a lot to me to finish on the podium.
It will be a difficult event because there are so many fast drivers.
But it will be exciting to drive on my own roads, in front of my
own fans, with the prospect of obtaining a good finish. I know most
of the stages quite well and there are only a few roads that I'm
not so familiarwith. I'm used to the Finnish roads so they don't
seem so difficult to me. The most important aspect is not to lose
momentum. They are so fast that lifting off the throttle, evenbriefly,
can cost a lot of time. The Focus finished second here last year.
It has not changed so much since then so it should still be well-suited
to this event"
- Mikko
Hirvonen: "It
means a great deal to me that I have factory support again for my
home rally. I know everyone in the team, I work well with them all
and I'm so happy to be back. I've never driven the current specification
Focus RS and there are many things that will be different compared
to the 2003 car that I've been driving. But I have a day's testing
on Sunday and I think that will be enough to learn. I know already
that the Focus suits my driving style and my target is to score
points for Ford and to be as close as I can to Toni at the top of
the leaderboard. If I'm close to him, then I can be in the top five.
There are two things that have to be absolutely right for this rally.
It's important to be 100 per cent sure of how the car handles and
a driver has to get the correct driving line over the crests. The
stages are so fast that good confidence is vital and that comes
with a car that handles well. And before taking off over a jump,
a driver needs to know where he is going to land. Once you're in
the air, it's too late to change your mind! There is no room for
mistakes"
- Petter
Solberg:
"Finland is a great event and one of my favourites of the year.
There's a good atmosphere, it's well organised and the stages are incredible.
After Argentina the feeling in the car is pretty good now, and I'm hoping
that the final preparations at the test
this weekend will mean we're very competitive on the rally. I've got
my fingers crossed that everything will be perfect for a good rally,
but for this one it's a little bit cautious too. For sure you have to
attack, but it's not a good idea to start Finland feeling over confident.
I'm ready to give it my best shot, and I hope it will be a good show
for the spectators. A lot of my supporters come across from Norway and
hopefully we can give them something to cheer about."
- Chris
Atkinson: "I'm really looking forward to it. I completed
the route last year in a Group N Impreza so I've already got some experience
of the stages, which I think will be of some benefit. But in Finland
you really can't underestimate the value of experience. It's one of
those events that you need to do time and time again before you get
close to the experts. The roads are pretty challenging, very fast, with
lots of blind crests and jumps, but they're a type of road that I like.
The speed doesn't faze me; I guess it's something I've become comfortable
with after so many events in Australia where the roads are often just
as fast. I'm hoping to get a good set-up at the pre-event test on Friday,
one that will enable me to push a little harder on the rally and show
some good speed."
PEUGEOT
- GRONHOLM:
"Our main rival has been so strong this season so far
that he even seems capable of beating us on our home event. Even so,
it won't be easy for him and it will be up to us to make the most
of that. Every year, I feel unbeatable going into 'my' rally, but
this time I get the feeling we will need to be particularly strong
and focused if we want to win."
- MARTIN:
"This rally is unique. I like it a lot. Given that my
country is so close and that it doesn't organise a round of the World
Championship, it's almost as though this was my home round. I really
hope to score a top result. I have always been quick in Finland, and
I know the 307 WRC - which won here last year - will be very competitive."
CITROEN
- LOEB,
CHAMPIONSHIP LEADER: "I
really want to win this rally. It's a legendary event that very few
non-Finns have won and I'm on a good run at the moment. However, I have
no intention of driving absolutely flat out. That's not my style. I'm
not the sort of driver who goes crazy. It's not in my nature to take
what I have noted as a 5th-gear corner in 6th in the belief that it'll
be OK. In the last stage in Mexico, as well as in Argentina after my
spin, I was close to the limit but I still kept it tidy. Scrambling
round a corner doesn't suit me and it doesn't pay. So I will drive in
my usual way, pushing as hard as I feel I can to begin with, then seeing
where we stand and after that adapting ours tactics as necessary. In
Finland, we will see early on whether we have a real chance of winning."
- DUVAL:
"To finish, but in a better position if possible. In Argentina,
we allowed our rivals to pull clear on Day 1. After that, we played
a waiting game which ended up not paying because nobody ahead of us
retired. In Finland, there will be a lot of quick locals in WRC cars.
Don't expect us to be that well placed on Day 1. We will endeavour to
be as consistent as possible"
MITSUBISHI
- ROVANPERA:
"This is a special event for me with good feelings because of the
amount of friends and fans. For me it is one of the best rallies with
the best stages; sure it is not the easiest to drive though. Lots of
drivers know it well now, I think everyone likes it and all the drivers
- not just the Finns - are fighting for the top positions. I am really
hoping for a podium position, but we have to make it through all three
days; last year I was leading before an accident, but now the Lancer
WRC05 gets better and better and hopefully we can show our pace again
and get a good result. Our test in Finland was good, although the weather
was wet and difficult, but I think we have made good progress with the
suspension and I'm quite confident. The engine development is also a
good point; our car speed should be good on these fast stages".
- GALLI:
"Testing in Finland was good; my first time on these stages
in a world rally car, it was an amazing experience! The jumps, crests,
big sideways, very nice.! For me, it was like a great present to drive
the car on these stages. We had some good results from the test but
obviously we don't know how the other teams are progressing. What I
can say is that I feel very confident at the moment and the car is just
going to improve more and more".
SKODA
- PAASONEN:
" Last year was my first drive for Škoda Motorsport but I
enjoyed it very much and finished sixth. I hope that I can do at least
as well as that this year. It's my home event so I always look forward
to it and want to get the best result possible"
- SCHWARTZ:
"This is a real drivers' rally and it takes place in forests full
of enthusiastic spectators. It is very difficult for visiting drivers
because only after three days do you start to
understand the challenges. You have to be full of confidence to do really
well."
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