Day 1 – Report from RedBullRally
The first half of the Rally Finland has gone
perfectly to plan for the Citroën Junior Team. Dani Sordo and Marc Marti
are fifth overall, having set a fastest stage time in the land of the
1000 lakes. Kimi Räikkönen and Kaj Lindström are currently fifth. A long
day of 162 competitive kilometres remains on the programme for tomorrow.
The Rally Finland got underway on Thursday night with Laajavouri: a
televised stage that used to form the shakedown for the event. Both Dani
Sordo and Kimi Räikkönen made a careful start to finish in the top 10
on the opening test, held in a heatwave that saw Thursday’s temperatures
peak at 37.2°C: a national record.
The second half of day one got underway at 0630 this morning with two
loops of two special stages that were run consecutively, without a visit
to the service park in Jyväskylä.
Dani Sordo got off to a flying start from the very beginning of the
event. After a sixth-quickest, a fifthquickest and a fourth-quickest
time, the Spaniard set his very first fastest stage time in Finland on
Jukojärvi 2:
“I’ve got a very good feeling,” he said. “The Citroën Junior Team’s C4
WRC suits me perfectly. We worked extremely well together with the team
and I’m feeling very comfortable on these fast stages.”
Kimi Räikkönen was competing on his home event for the second time and
he also made progress with every kilometre that passed. Fulfilling all
the goals that he had set himself to the letter, the former F1 World
Champion returned to Jyväskylä occupying eighth place overall at midday
service.
“I used the first few stages just to get to grips with
everything,” said the Finn. “The pace is extremely quick with the
Citroën C4 WRC, much more than was the case last year! The car is
perfect but I’m still lacking in both mexperience and confidence. I can
see where I am losing time though.”
As he racked up the kilometres and built up his experience, Kimi was
slowed on SS8 after Henning Solberg went off.
“People were signalling
for me to slow down,” he reported. “Afterwards, it was hard to find the
right rhythm again. The stages that we are doing for the first time are
the most difficult ones. I’m trying to attack but it’s a lot easier the
second time round. We have to carry on like this now but make sure that
we stay concentrated in order not to make any mistakes. Tomorrow is a
long day and I hope that it will be a little easier.”
With its new two-day format this year, the Rally Finland is due to
finish tomorrow night. Eight special stages are in store for all the
crews, totalling 162.78 kilometres.
Stage Times:
SS11 – Laajavuori 2
SS10 – Myhinpaa 2
SS9 – Sirkkamaki 2
SS8 – Myhinpaa 1
SS7 – Sirkkamaki 1
SS6 – Lankamaa
SS5 – Jukojarvi 2
SS4 – Urria 2
SS3 – Jukojarvi 1
SS2 – Urria 1
SS1 – Laajavuori 1
Todt praised rally driver Räikkönen
Source: Turunsanomat.fi | by Heikki Kulta | Translation courtesy of Nicole
You know Räikkönen well. How realistic is it to expect him to become a champion in WRC too?
"It’s a theoretical question. Kimi is a WDC in F1 but F1 and WRC are
two completely different racing series. It’s the same if you would ask
me how realistic it would be if Usain Bolt would win the championship in
maraton and 100 meters. Maybe Bolt could win, I don’t know, but I can
say as little about Kimi too," Todt told TS.
"Kimi is talented and very committed race driver. He is an extremely
brave guy. When Kimi wanted a new challenge he was brave enough to go
and look for it in rally. F1 is constant pressure and I understand well
why Kimi wanted to do something else."
"Kimi has already achieved a certain level as a rally driver. I can say
this: If Jenson Button or whoever who wins the WDC in F1 this year
would go to rally he wouldn’t achieve the same level as Kimi has during
his first season," Todt specified.
Rally-Kimi has learned a lot
Source: Turunsanomat.fi | by Heikki Kulta | Translation courtesy of Nicole
Kimi Räikkönen was so busy on Thursday that this interview we had agreed
was moved more and more later until 50 minutes before the SS1 Kimi had
time to answer to a few questions.
If I write that you drive rally in 2011, is it wrong information?
"To be honest I don’t know yet," Kimi said.
How much better as a rally driver are you now if you compare to the rookie who started from here a year ago?
"At least I have learned a lot. I learned a lot during the beginning of the season but there is a huge amount to learn."
Experts see that Räikkönen drives Red Bull Citroen like a F1-driver.
Kimi takes the car in a straight line concentrating on the front and
doesn’t let the rear slide like you could do with a rally car.
Do you still think when driving that you driver like a F1-driver?
"I guess my thinking has changed a bit. It’s hard to say because I have
learned so much. I guess this is a different starting point," Räikkönen
thought.
What has been the most difficult thing to adapt to?
"Everything is new. Of course notes are the most difficult to learn. I
make them and listen. Sometimes I just put a little more effort into
driving and don’t hear them and have to ask for them again. Many of my
mistakes are due to me not listening carefully enough to the note. It’s
the most difficult thing because it doesn’t happen automatically,"
Räikkönen said.
What do you expect from this rally?
"I hope it will become a good rally and that I don’t make any stupid
mistakes. If I’m one second per km behind the lead, then I’m satisfied.
It helps a bit that we have notes from last year."
Gravel is the real element for the Finnish rally stars but for Räikkönen it seems that tarmac is a more natural surface.
"I have drove on tarmac all my life, that’s why. I expect more of me on
gravel too but since I haven’t had many rallies my driving style is a
bit different. In rally experience means more than it means in F1. If
you make a small mistake in rally it costs a lot. In F1 you usually get
back on the track through the safety-area."
FUCK ISRAEL 