2005
WRC STANDING:
after rally
1 Solberg 26
2 Loeb 25
3 Martin 23
4 Gardemeister 20
4 Gronholm 20
6 Rovanpera 11
Panizzi 7
Duval 5
H. Solberg 4
Stohl 3
Carlsson 3
Atkinson 2
Galli 1
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FINAL
RESULT, SUN, APR 10, 2005
- 1
Sebastien Loeb Citroen Xsara , Michelin
- 2
 Marcus
Gronholm Peugeot 307, Pirelli +49.8s
- 3
 Petter
Solberg Subaru Impreza, Pirelli +1m 8
- 4 Francois
Duval Citroen Xsara , Michelin +2m 6
- 5 Markko
Martin , Peugeot 307, Pirelli +3m 9
- 6 Toni
Gardemeister , Ford Focus RS, Michelin +3m 16
- 7 Christopher
Atkinson , Subaru Impreza, Pirelli +4m 37
- 8 Gianluigi
Galli , Mitsubishi Lancer, Pirelli +6m 50
- 9 Harri
Rovanpera , Mitsubishi Lancer, Pirelli
- 10 Manfred
Stohl , Citroen Xsara
WINNER,
LOEB: "It's very nice to win here in New Zealand after our
frustrating outings in Sweden and Mexico. It shows that
we were simply down on luck on those two rallies. I am particularly
pleased with this weekend's result because we won in a straight
fight with Marcus and Petter. Also, winning on this terrain -
which tended to be a little difficult for us in previous years
- is a positive sign on two accounts. First of all, it proves
that the Xsara continues to
progress and, secondly, the fact that we are now competitive on
fast gravel means we can hope for a top result in Finland."
2ND,
GRONHOLM: "Before the rally started I thought I could win,
but this turned out not to be possible: the combination of Sebastien
and Citroen was too fast to catch. In any case, I am reasonably
happy to finish second. I had a big fight with Petter, but I was
quite confident I could keep him behind me. I am happy with the
reliability of the car; we have had two good finishes in a row
and that gives me a lot of confidence. I am a little bit disappointed
not to take the win, but generally speaking I am satisfied with
our performance."
3RD,
SOLBERG: "I'm very happy actually. My plan for this
rally was third or fourth place and we've come away with some
good points and the lead of the championship. We knew it would
be difficult right from the start. In fact we did okay but later
on, on the hard and dry roads, we were far away. But that's how
it is sometimes, I didn't want to lose those six points, so took
it steady and went for the best possible finish. I'm feeling very
positive about the championship now. For sure we have some work
to do, but overall the feeling is good. I'm very happy with the
new car and with 12 more rallies to go, things are looking very
interesting."
LEG
2, Saturday 9 April, 2005
CITROEN
SUMMARY: Loeb and Xsara deal their rivals a big blow!
Take
2.! To the delight of everyone in the Citroën team, the story
of Rally New Zealand's second leg was practically identical to
that of Day 1, with Sébastien Loeb, Daniel Elena and their
Xsara more or less level pegging with their direct rivals during
the morning's loop before pulling clear in the second to extend
their lead over their immediate chasers to around the minute mark.
François
Duval and Stéphane Prévot began Saturday's action
in 3rd place and, as announced, stuck to their own pace which
was sufficiently quick to keep a firm hold on 4th position but
also to keep them within striking distance of the leading trio.
Like
yesterday, six of today's eight stages were based in the Kaipara
region. Each of the two loops of three tests included two that
were run both in the morning and afternoon plus a third 'one-off'
stage. After posting fastest times through 'Wairere' (SS9) and
'Cassidy 1' (SS10), Sébastien was forced to settle for
the third best time - 4.5s down - in 'Bull 1'. "I had something
of a moment a third of the way into this stage," related
the Citroën driver. "I braked too late for a fourth-
gear right- hander and I went wide, with the rear trailing in
the ditch. So as not to send the car into a spin, I kept my foot
hard to the floor and opposite- locked but the backlash as I pulled
clear of the ditch sent me into the opposite side ditch. After
another visit to the left-hand ditch, I finally managed to get
the car back in line.. Then I slowed it down a little until the
end of the stage." By the end of the morning, the French
crew had pulled a further 0.5s clear of Petter Solberg and a further
10.8s clear of Marcus Grönholm.
Again
like yesterday, Sébastien opted to fit hardest compound
Michelin tyres for the afternoon's loop which was run in bright
sunshine. After a relatively cautious run through 'Waipu Caves'
(SS12), the rally leader upped his pace through 'Cassidy 2' and
'Bull 2'. "The surface had been swept clean during the first
run and my wear-resistant, hard compound tyres allowed me to corner
hard. They were great. When I saw the split times showing that
I was pulling clear of my rivals, I decided to push hard.""It
really was maximum attack," confirms Daniel Elena. "But
perfectly clean mind, and no mistakes!" At the following
service back in Auckland, Seb and Daniel had every reason to be
pleased since their cushion over Marcus Grönholm had extended
to 51.9s and over Petter Solberg to 58.7 s.
- AFTER LEG
2 OVERALL STANDING
- 1
Sebastien Loeb Citroen Xsara (2 stage wins)
- 2Marcus
Gronholm Peugeot 307 +51.9s
"It's
clear that we are not going to win this rally, and while I never
like finishing second that is the best we can do here now. Today
has been OK but the problem is simply that Sebastien is quicker
than us and there is nothing more we can do about it. For the
last loop of stages I tried some new tyres that were the best
choice we have made throughout the whole rally. Now it is a question
of just driving to the finish and trying to keep Petter behind.
That will not be easy -- he has been very quick and I have a big
fight on my hands. Still, I like that!"
- 3Petter
Solberg Subaru Impreza +58.7s (3 stage wins)
"It's
almost they same as yesterday - the first time through we're fastest,
and the second time we're struggling. It seems the other teams
have an advantage on the repeated stages, they have a different
tyre and it's working well. I tried my best to change my driving
style to cut down the wear, but it's very difficult to do anything.
Tomorrow will be a very interesting day. Marcus and I will have
a good fight in the morning I think, but in the afternoon, unless
we get some rain, I think we will struggle. Of course I want to
win every rally I start, but I can honestly say that I will be
happy to finish third tomorrow! "
- 4
Francois Duval Citroen
Xsara +1m 20s
- 5
Toni Gardemeister , Ford Focus
RS +2m 22
- 6
Markko Martin , Peugeot
307 +2m 31
- 7 Christopher
Atkinson , Subaru Impreza +2m 58
- 8 Gianluigi
Galli , Mitsubishi Lancer +4m 32
- 9 Harri Rovanpera
, Mitsubishi Lancer
- 10 Manfred
Stohl , Citroen Xsara
- 11 Armin
Schwarz 12 Janne Tuohino 13 Antony Warmbold 14 Cody Crocker 15
Per-gunnar Andersson
LEG 1,
Friday 8 April, 2005
- 1
S Loeb/D Elena Citroen Xsara
"I
felt my decision to run with a harder compound tyre was the right
choice. That
feeling was reinforced by my car's handling and I was really able
to push through the three repeated stages which had cleaned up since
the morning. That said, I didn't think I would be able to pull out
such a big gap. There was a lot of surface gravel in the last stage
of the day which hadn't yet been covered but the balance of my car
enabled me to cope with that. The progress we have made here is due
to a number of factors: I have more experience, I am able to adapt
my driving to the terrain, to brake late and stay on the clean lines
through the corners. And that's also possible because the car allows
me to do it. It has improved on all fronts, as have our tyres. Those
in the hunt for victory tomorrow will benefit from the same stage
conditions. I will try not to make any mistakes and defend the gap
I have pulled out."
- 2M
Grönholm/T Rautiainen Peugeot 307 +1hr 12m 24s
"I
was reasonably pleased after the first loop of stages, knowing that
I had made a tyre choice that was a bit too hard. Unfortunately, we
had the opposite problem in the afternoon, and chose tyres that were
too soft. We struggled to find traction, so it was a frustrating afternoon.
Generally speaking, it was quite a messy day where we made life difficult
for ourselves. However, we end the leg just 20 seconds off the lead
and we have had no problems with the car. I've always had a good feeling
with the roads here, so we can still challenge for the lead. I'm looking
forward to the rest of the event."
- 3
F Duval/S Prévot Citroen Xsara +1hr 12m 27s
"The
final stage of the day was new for everyone, and my 11th position
on the road here was an advantage. I am really pleased to be 3rd this
evening on a rally that requires so much experience, especially since
it is still possible to fine-tune the set- up of my Xsara. I'm not
far behind Marcus [Grönholm] but that won't change my approach.
I will keep to the same pace tomorrow without worrying about my stage
times. As I have already said, I will be delighted if I can score
the six points for Citroën and myself that go with 3rd place."
- 4 P Solberg/P
Mills Subaru Impreza +1hr 12min 32s
"I'm very happy with what we've done today, we've made a really
good start. In the morning we took a risk with a softer tyre and were
very pleased with the performance. I didn't lose nearly as much time
as I thought I would. In the afternoon we went for the same plan,
with a softer tyre, only this time it was a mistake and, looking back,
we should have taken a harder one. But generally, even though we could
have done better, I'm still very happy. We've had absolutely no problems,
the car is driving very well, giving lots of confidence, and considering
we've been first through the stages all day, we're not too far off
the lead. There's a long way to go yet and I'm still aiming for a
good points finish."
- 5 C Atkinson/G
MacNeall Subaru Impreza +1hr 12min 55s
"We've
had a good day today and of course it's encouraging to have collected
a couple of stage wins too. The road position worked out well for
us and after a cautious start I'm feeling much more confident on the
gravel. I think we can continue at this pace, and keep on learning
- we are not going after the guys at the front. I think we can make
some more adjustments to the car and make it 100 per cent, but at
this stage practice is going to make the most difference to my times.
For us it is all about getting more experience over the next couple
of days and hopefully getting a good result."
- 6 T Gardemeister/J
Honkanen Ford Focus RS +1hr 13m
- 7 M Märtin/M
Park Peugeot 307s
- 8 M Stohl/I Minor
Citroen Xsara s
- 9 H Rovanperä/R
Pietilainen Mitsubishi Lancer s
- 10 G Galli/G
D'Amore Mitsubishi Lancer s
RALLY
ROUTE:
-
Thursday
7 April, 2005:
Ceremonial Start Start Waitemata Plaza, Auckland 19.30
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Friday
8 April, 2005 : Leg 1
Paparoa - Paparoa Start Paparoa 09.30 SS1 Parahi 25.33km 09.53 SS2
Batley 1 19.33km 10.46 SS3 Waipu Gorge 1 11.24km 11.14 SS4 Brooks
1 16.15km 11.37 Serv A Paparoa (30 mins) 12.40 SS5 Batley 2 19.33km
13.33 SS6 Waipu Gorge 2 11.24km 14.01 SS7 Brooks 2 16.15km 14.24 SS8
Millbrook 10.45km 14.54 Serv B Paparoa (flexi 45 mins) 15.50 Finish
Paparoa 16.35 Total 129.22km
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Saturday
9 April: Leg 2
Paparoa - Auckland Serv C Paparoa (10 mins) 09.00 SS9 Wairere 18.92km
09.23 SS10 Cassidy 1 15.78km 10.01 SS11 Bull 1 31.73km 10.24 Serv
D Paparoa (30 mins) 11.40 SS12 Waipu Caves 21.35km 13.03 SS13 Cassidy
2 15.78km 13.39 SS14 Bull 2 31.73km 14.02 Serv E Paparoa (flexi 45
mins) 14.50 SS15 Manukau Super 1 2.10km 19.30 SS16 Manukau Super 2
2.10km 19.51 Finish Auckland 20.30 Total 139.49km
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Sunday
10 April: Leg 3
Auckland - Auckland Serv F Western Springs (10 mins) 06.30 SS17 Te
Hutewai 11.15km 09.03 SS18 Whaanga Coast 1 29.76km 09.26 RTZ Raglan
(10 mins) 10.10 SS19 Te Papatapu 16.62km 11.03 SS20 Whaanga Coast
2 29.76km 11.36 Serv G Western Springs (20 mins) 14.40 Finish Waitemata
Plaza, Auckland 15.30 Total 87.29km Rally Total 356.00km
FORD: Kresta
withdraws from Rally New Zealand after test crash
- BP-Ford World Rally
Team drivers Roman Kresta and Jan Mozny have been withdrawn from the
Rally New Zealand after a heavy accident during this morning's pre-event
shakedown test. The Czech duo rolled their Ford Focus RS World Rally
Car at high speed and the damage was too extensive for repairs to be
completed to allow the car to start this fourth round of the FIA World
Rally Championship.
- The accident happened
3.76km after the start of the 5.21km Wearmouth Road test stage, close
to the service park at Paparoa, around which the opening two days of
the rally are based tomorrow and Saturday.
- "I approached
a sixth gear right corner and left my braking slightly too late,"
said 28-year-old Kresta. "The car hit a bank and then rolled heavily
several times." Both Kresta and Mozny were shaken but unhurt. Data
showed the Focus RS was travelling at 121kph at the time of the crash.
- BP-Ford team director
Malcolm Wilson said the car was too badly damaged to be repaired for
the rally. "The roll cage was damaged in the impact and there was
also considerable damage to the front left chassis and the rear right
of the car. We don't have the time to make repairs here and there is
no way the car could compete. It's a big disappointment to lose Roman
before the start and there is nobody more disappointed than he is,"
he said.
-
DRIVERS:
Sébastien Loeb / Daniel Elena
& Francois Duval / Stephane Prevot
- LOEB :
"Last year, after serving as 'road sweeper' throughout the first
loop of stages and dropping 44 seconds, I knew I wouldn't be able to
win.
The second loop was identical and I only dropped a further 4 seconds.
After Sunday's first group of stages, I was still 47s behind the leader
who was battling hard to defend first place. The moral of the story
is that practically all that deficit was lost running first on the road
on the Friday. That said, the terrain could be different this time round;
it could rain, etc. But it will be nice if we are in a position where
we are challenging for top spot in New Zealand which is one of the few
events that has resisted the team so far."
- DUVAL:
"My prime objective will be to build on my experience which
is very important over this event's difficult, technically demanding
stages. I will be pleased if I finish in the top-five, and delighted
if I make it onto the podium. Honestly though, I don't think it will
be possible to win in normal circumstances!"
PEUGEOT
- Drivers: Marcus
Gronholm and Timo Rautiainen, Markko Martin and Michael Park
- MARTIN:
"...It's a real driver's rally. The grip is good and you
can drive flat. To be competitive, you need good knowledge of the stages,
and that is our case. But you also need complete confidence in your
car and the result we can aim for will depend essentially on that"
- GRONHOLM:
It's a rally I like very much.
I can't wait to be back in New Zealand and I'm hoping for a good result.
As in Mexico, my main objective will be to finish in the points but
that doesn't rule out going for a win. In 2004, I finished 2nd when
the 307 WRC was still very new. The situation is different this time."
FORD
- Drivers:
Toni Gardemeister and Jakke Honkanen; Roman Kresta and Jan Tomanek
- GARDEMEISTER:
"... The roads are fast and flowing and frequently
the camber changes in corners which allows a driver to drift the car
through bends more than on other rallies. They can also be quite slippery
if wet. This time of year is early autumn in New Zealand so the weather
could be mixed, either dry and warm or showery. The last round in Mexico
was my first on gravel in the Focus. The result wasn't as strong as
I had hoped but the car felt good to drive and I learned a lot. I'm
looking forward to driving it in New Zealand, which is a rally I really
enjoy. It's quite like my home event in Finland, without the big jumps,"
- KRESTA:
"... Every rally this season has been one of learning
for me. But despite this I scored driver points in both Monte Carlo
and Sweden and was lying in the points in Mexico before retiring. I'm
aiming for another points finish in New Zealand, but the most important
aspect for me is to learn as much as I can about the event. I think
the special stages will be fast and enjoyable to drive. I have been
nominated here by Ford so it's important for me to aim for a good result
to score manufacturer points. But I don't want to take any risks, especially
early in the event, because it's also necessary for me to finish the
rally to understand the nature of the roads and gain as much experience
as I can"
SUBARU
- Drivers: Petter
Solberg ; Chris Atkinson
- SOLBERG:
"... The new car felt good in Mexico, not perfect, but
very good. Throughout the event, the team worked hard to improve the
set-up so I could get more feeling and, after the second day, I was
much happier. There are still some improvements to be made ahead of
New Zealand and we're always making lots of adjustments that can make
a difference to the overall experience inside the car, so it's looking
good. New Zealand will be a difficult rally for me due to running first
on the road. I think I'll lose a bit of time on the first day as I sweep
the loose gravel roads clean for those behind, but hopefully I'll be
able to get it back on Leg two and three. Everything is possible so
we'll just have to wait and see. It's a good rally and one that everyone's
looking forward to"
- ATKINSON:
"... I started to understand things a lot more about the
car in Mexico and felt as though I was improving. I learned to be more
patient and discovered that, it you drop back a little and don't push
so hard, it's easier to stay on the clean line. You could see our development
in the stage times and hopefully it'll be the same in New Zealand. There
were some sections in Mexico that were similar to terrain that I'd contested
on before, but many parts felt very new. In terms of the car, everything's
feeling better and I'm more comfortable working with the team. All the
changes that we made in Mexico seem to have gone in the right direction
and the plan is to continue that in New Zealand. Glenn and I have been
working pretty closely with Petter. We have quite a similar driving
style and want the same things from the car, so it's good. I'm not setting
myself any objectives in terms of finishing positions for New Zealand
but, similar to the last two events, it's all about getting experience.
I'd love to get a good finish and seeing the speed we had in Mexico
hopefully that will come soon."
MITSUBISHI
- DRIVERS: Harri
Rovanpera/Risto Pietiläinen & Gigi Galli/Guido D'Amore
- ROVANPERA:
"I don't really know why New Zealand has been so good to me,
but for sure it's one of my best and certainly a favorite. The roads
are very nice, it's a quick event and the gravel is also nice; not bumpy
or rough. It is quite a technical rally and not so easy because of the
constantly changing camber on the road, but it works well for me. One
thing that is very important though is to have a really good car and
a lot of confidence in everything; then it all comes together".
- GALLI:
"For us, New Zealand is a very new rally and our experience is
very very small.
I have already discussed our strategy with the team and everyone agrees
that it is important to get to the finish, understand more and have
the same philosophy we have had all season. Therefore, our goal will
be to finish, look for some points for Mitsubishi, and move further
ahead with the development of the dampers and active center diff. That
is all, nothing else. I hope to enjoy the rally, but then I enjoy myself
every time I sit in the car anyway.!"
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2005
SEASON
Rally
of Monte Carlo
Rally of Sweden
Rally of Mexico
Rally of New Zealand
Rally of Italy-Sardinia
Rally of Cyprus
Rally of Turkey
Rally of Greece
Rally of Argentina
Rally of Finland
Rally of Germany
Rally of Great Britain
Rally of Japan
Rally of France-Corsica
Rally of Catalunya
Rally of Australia
WRC
Manufacturer Champions:
2004: Citroen
2003:
Citroen
2002: Peugeot
2001: Peugeot
2000: Peugeot
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