Event Bulletin
Rally Sardegna - preview
11 May 2007
The Subaru World Rally Team moves from the grassy Pampas of Argentina to the dramatic Mediterranean landscape of Sardinia for round seven of the 16-event World Rally Championship.
Italy’s round of rallying’s global tour is based in the port of Olbia on the picturesque Costa Smeralda coast, in the north east of Sardinia. It is the fourth consecutive loose-surface rally in this year’s championship and competitors will speed through a spectacular mountain landscape.
The rally includes some technical, medium-width roads featuring a hard-packed base covered with a layer of fine, sandy gravel. The drivers running first on the road will be at a disadvantage because they will be sweeping the loose surface for the following cars. However, some of the roads tend to get very rough when the crews drive through them for the second time, which they will do with all of the nine routes. Therefore a shrewd tyre choice and intelligent driving will be absolutely vital on this event.
Warm temperatures are the norm, but rain is a possibility, especially up in the hills, where the drivers will thread their cars up narrow passes to altitudes of more than 800 metres above sea level. Indeed, at the moment the forecast is for the rally to be held on a damp surface.
After the ceremonial start in the old harbour area of Porto Cervo on Thursday 17 May, the action begins with the 31km Crastazza stage at 0943hrs on Friday morning. There are six timed sections on each of the three days, and the winning car is scheduled to cross the finish line back in Porto Cervo at 1430hrs on Sunday 20 May.
The legs on Friday and Saturday are quite similar to those used in previous years. The first day takes competitors through the State Property Forest of Castrazza, in the province of Nuoro. For day two the action shifts to Terranova, and mixes familiar roads with new sections, before the final day includes one test that is completely new: Monte Nuragone. In total, the competitors will cover 342.86km of timed sections and 718.98km of public road driving, making a total rally distance of 1061.84km.
Entries
The Subaru World Rally Team has entered two Impreza WRC2007s for Rally d’Italia Sardegna. Petter Solberg/Phil Mills will drive car number seven, while Chris Atkinson/Stephane Prevot will drive car number eight. Petter and Phil won the event in 2004, leading from start to finish, and also finished second in 2005. Chris will start his third Sardinian event, having shown plenty of potential in his previous two outings. In 2006 he climbed as high as third overall, winning one stage along the way.
I am easily satisfied with the very best.
"It is a very good looking car, If you have cataract" - JC about the Alpine A610
Starters
82 crews started leg one of Rally d’Italia-Sardegna.
Route
For the first day, competitors negotiated gravel roads in the hills of the State Property Forest of Castrazza, in the province of Nuoro. The day comprised two loops of three stages split by a return to service in Olbia. With the competitive distance of each loop totalling 72km, it was a demanding start to the rally.
Weather
Long-range forecasts had hinted at rain for Friday, but instead north-eastern Sardinia was bathed in bright sunshine as the rally got underway. Ambient temperatures ranged from 18 to a high of 26 degrees Celsius.
Retirements
Chris Atkinson/Stephane Prevot; Daniel Carlsson/Denis Giraudet
Subaru World Rally Team summary
The two Subaru World Rally Team drivers made a positive start to round seven of the World Rally Championship, but the prospects of two strong finishes were reduced during a much tougher afternoon. Petter Solberg/Phil Mills were battling at the front before a brake problem hindered them on SS4, and they finished the day in sixth place. Chris Atkinson/Stephane Prevot were on course to end the day comfortably inside the top eight until they were unable to avoid some rocks in the middle of the road on SS5. They went off and lost several minutes because their Impreza became beached on a boulder.
SS1: 0943hrs Crastazza 1 (31.13km)
The opening leg of the rally began from 0830hrs when cars left the service area in Olbia to tackle the first of six stages. Crastazza was located 57km south west of Olbia and at 31km it was the longest of the whole rally. Weather conditions were fine, dry and sunny as crews began the loose gravel stage in championship order. Subaru’s Petter Solberg tackled the stage fifth, with his team-mate Chris Atkinson seventh in the second of the Impreza WRC2007s. A layer of loose, fine gravel on the road put the first cars through the stage at a disadvantage and the road cleaned significantly as the leaders swept the loose material from the racing line. Those behind benefited from the cleaner surface and the stage was won by the eighth driver through, young Finn Jari-Matti Latvala. Marcus Gronholm set the next best time, with Chris Atkinson third and Solberg fourth.
Fastest time: J-M Latvala (Ford) 21m 27.8s
SS2: 1058hrs Terranova 1 (21.21km)
Following Crastazza, and after a re-fuelling halt, crews drove 21km north to Terranova and its tricky mixture of conditions. The stage begins with a 5km sprint along a narrow tree-lined track, after which there are a lot of square junctions, crests, straights, narrow gates and two tarmac sections, which are especially challenging to drive on gravel tyres. Problems with the timing system delayed the start by five minutes, but once underway, Sebastien Loeb led the field through. The road cleaning effect on Terranova was less pronounced than it had been on Crastazza and Loeb won the stage despite running first on the road. Petter Solberg set the second fastest time, just 1.8sec behind the pace of the Frenchman. Petter’s older brother Henning was third, with Marcus Gronholm fourth and rally leader Latvala rounding off the top five times.
Fastest time: Loeb (Citroen) 15m 14.9s
SS3: 1134hrs Monte Olia 1 (20.36km)
The last stage of the morning loop was the 20km section at Monte Olia, reckoned by Subaru’s Stephane Prevot to be the most important of the day. The last five kilometres of Monte Olia are some of the most difficult parts of the rally and combine a furious pace with a changeable road surface, multiple junctions, crests and a big jump. Fastest over the tricky surface was Henning Solberg, who set the best time, 1.2sec ahead of Gronholm who was second. Latvala was third quickest to retain the overall lead of the rally by a slim 1.5sec. Petter Solberg was fourth quickest through the stage and held third position overall. Chris Atkinson reported that the handling of his car had prevented him from attacking with confidence as he had on the first stage. But with a 30-minute service before the next test, he and the rest of the field had a chance to make set-up changes before the repeat loop.
Fastest time: H. Solberg (Ford) 14m 52.7s
SS4: 1453hrs Crastazza 2 (31.13km)
The fourth stage of the day was a re-run of the opening test, Crastazza. Marcus Gronholm was the stage winner and became the fourth driver in four stages to claim a fastest time. The win moved Gronholm ahead of Latvala, who was third fastest, and into the overall lead of the rally. There was a setback before the stage started for Petter Solberg, who picked up a ten second penalty when work on a rear brake caliper overran and he left service one minute late. On the stage Solberg reported further difficulties with his car’s rear brakes and was unable to match the excellent pace he had shown earlier in the day. The Norwegian set the seventh fastest time, 27sec off Gronholm’s pace, and dropped from third to sixth overall as a result.
Fastest time: Gronholm (Ford) 20m 51.9s
SS5: 1608hrs Terranova 2 (21.21km)
After the passage of the all the competitors earlier in the day, the road surface of Terranova had deteriorated by the time it was repeated as SS5. The gravel stage now featured deep ruts in many corners, and a number of rocks had been uncovered on the racing line as tyres dug into the loose surface for traction. The conditions proved costly for Latvala and Atkinson, who both retired with rock-related problems. Latvala, the rally leader for the morning loop of stages, stopped midway through the test with broken suspension, while Atkinson’s Impreza was deflected of course by some rocks and became beached on a roadside boulder. Atkinson did eventually get underway again, but with doubts about engine damage in the incident, the Subaru team decided to recover the car to the service area for checks. If all is well, Atkinson will re-start the rally on leg two.
Fastest time: Loeb (Citroen) 14m 44.9s
SS6: 1644hrs Monte Olia 2 (20.36km)
Day one finished with a repeat of the Monte Olia test. Sebastien Loeb took the stage win, and with it the overnight rally lead, after Marcus Gronholm finished 25 seconds off the pace with a broken damper. Petter Solberg’s car continued to be affected by a lack of rear braking power and the Norwegian dropped more time to the leaders. His time of 14m 57.6s was the seventh fastest, and he will start tomorrow’s second leg sixth overall.
Fastest time: Loeb (Citroen) 14m 30.9s
I am easily satisfied with the very best.
"It is a very good looking car, If you have cataract" - JC about the Alpine A610
Starters
80 of the original 82 competitors started day two of the event.
Route
For the second leg the action shifted to Terranova, south-west of the rally’s base. The route mixed familiar roads used in previous years with new sections. Competitors tackled three stages in the morning and then returned to the same three tests in the afternoon, following a 30-minute service halt back in Olbia.
Weather
It was another dry and sunny day in north-eastern Sardinia. The ambient temperature ranged from 15 degrees Celsius as the cars left service in the morning to a high of 26 degrees.
Retirements
Luis Perez Companc/Jose Maria Volta (Ford Focus WRC)
Subaru World Rally Team summary
Petter Solberg and Phil Mills ended the second day of action in Sardinia in sixth position overall. The Subaru World Rally Team pairing are 40 seconds off fourth position with six stages left to run tomorrow. After not completing two stages yesterday, Chris Atkinson and Stephane Prevot rejoined under SupeRally rules. They successfully completed all six stages and gathered a lot of data about the Impreza WRC2007.
I am easily satisfied with the very best.
"It is a very good looking car, If you have cataract" - JC about the Alpine A610
Starters
Seventy-three of the original 82 crews started the third leg.
Route
Six stages made up the final day. The tests were situated to the north and west of Olbia, the rally base. Unusually, there was no midday service halt: instead there was a short refuel between SS15 and SS16. After the final stage the drivers went to Porto Cervo to go over the ceremonial finish ramp at 1430hrs.
Weather
It was another fine day in north-eastern Sardinia. There were a few patches of light cloud high in the sky and ambient temperatures ranged from 18-27 degrees Celsius.
Retirements
Sebastien Loeb/Daniel Elena; Jan Kopecky/Filip Schovanek; Mads Ostberg/Ole Kristian Unnerud
Subaru World Rally Team summary
The Subaru World Rally Team entries of Petter Solberg/Phil Mills and Chris Atkinson/Stephane Prevot both came home inside the top ten after three days of hard driving in Sardinia. Both crews maintained their pace throughout the final six stages, but did not take unnecessary risks because the two cars also have to be used on the forthcoming Rally of Greece. Petter and Phil moved up one place to fifth during the day, while Chris and Stephane moved up from an overnight twelfth position to end the event tenth.
I am easily satisfied with the very best.
"It is a very good looking car, If you have cataract" - JC about the Alpine A610
WRC is ready to rock!
Every round of the World Rally Championship presents a tough challenge, but next weekend’s Acropolis Rally of Greece is one of the most difficult of them all. A combination of searing heat, boulder-strewn gravel roads and difficult stage layouts make this a true survival of the fittest. With a nine-week break in the WRC year after this event, the Subaru World Rally Team is heading to the Mediterranean keen to end the first half of the season on a high.
Since the Safari Rally left the WRC calendar, Greece’s round has assumed the mantle of ‘the toughest rally’. Durability is often just as important as outright performance. The ambient temperature – which can get as high as 40 degrees Celsius – puts driver fitness at a premium, while the rough conditions of the mountain roads are demanding on the machinery and the crews. The dust thrown up by other competing cars and rocks on the racing line are among the potential hazards, so the teams have to pay particular attention to under-car protection and engine cooling. The risk of punctures on sharp rocks is also a major factor, and the team’s tyre supplier BFGoodrich will offer a super-tough compound, introduced for the first time on the previous event in Sardinia, to suit the anticipated conditions.
The Acropolis Rally of Greece is one of the legendary events on the WRC calendar, albeit one that has experienced some major changes in a history that stretches back to the start of the World Rally Championship itself. In 2005 there was a major change in the event’s format. The rally had been based in central Greece, around the town of Lamia, 200km north of Athens, but two years ago it shifted its base to the Athens Olympic Stadium complex.
The move meant the rally organisers could incorporate some new special stages into the route, using some roads in the hills to the north and west of Greece’s capital city. For 2007 the base of the rally has moved once again – this time to the Olympic Equestrian Centre in Markopoulo, 30km south of Athens – but some of last year’s special stages remain, mixed with a selection of roads that are new to the drivers. One stage, Agii Theodori, measures a monster 48.88km and uses a combination of familiar sections and unknown roads. It is the longest special stage used so far this year, eclipsing the 46.02km St Pierreville – Antraigues test used on Rallye Monte Carlo.
The Olympic Equestrian Centre – which hosted the horse racing and horseback riding contests during the 2004 Olympic Games – will play host to the rally headquarters, the service park, and the ceremonial start and finish. Within the horse racing track a 3.3km gravel Super Special Stage has been designed. This stage, which will open the rally at 1900hrs on Thursday 31 May and close it at 1430hrs on Sunday 3 June, has a mirror-image layout and the two-driver, head-to-head format will whip the passionate Greek rally fans into a frenzy.
The scheduled SS9/20, Imittos, has been cancelled at late notice and so 21 of the planned 23 special stages will now be run. The organisers have altered the route accordingly and the competitive distance for the rally is 334.44km. The crews will also tackle 1237.89km of road driving, meaning the overall event distance is 1572.33km.
Entries
The Subaru World Rally Team has entered two Impreza WRC2007s for the eighth round of the World Rally Championship. Petter Solberg/Phil Mills will drive car number seven, while Chris Atkinson/Stephane Prevot will drive car number eight. Petter and Phil have contested the event six times with Subaru: in addition to a win in 2004, they have also finished second (2001), third (2003), fifth (2002) and seventh (2006). This will be Chris’s third time in Greece (albeit his first with Stephane Prevot as his co-driver) and the Australian is aiming to use the experience gained on the Greek stages in 2005 and 2006 to secure a solid points finish. The Subaru World Rally Team has a record of five wins in the past 13 seasons in Greece.
Quotes
Richard Taylor, Subaru World Rally Team managing director: “We’re in the middle of a test at the moment, and it’s difficult to set precise targets for Greece until we’ve assessed the results of our three days in Wales. The close proximity of the Acropolis Rally to the previous event in Sardinia, allied to the fact that we have to use the same car for both events, means that we won’t have much time to implement improvements to the car, so we’re anticipating that the changes in Greece will be small. However we have a very good engineering plan for the summer break and also expect to utilise some extra engineering resources to help our development progress at a faster rate. I’d expect to see significant progress by the time the WRC reconvenes for Rally Finland in August.”
Paul Howarth, Subaru World Rally Team operations director: “We’re heading to Greece a little earlier than usual – we have to use the same car for this event as we did in Sardinia, so we’ll rebuild the cars down there, rather than back at base. The build-up to the event has been very wet. I don’t think it is going to be as rough as the Acropolis was last year. The stages have received more work since last year and seem to have held up despite the poor weather. Nevertheless it will be a tough event, and Saturday is going to be more like rallies were in the past – we’ve got a 48km stage and two remote service halts, so the team will be chasing the rally cars around the country. There are 17 World Rally Cars entered on this event, so there will be a lot of competition for points. We need to make sure we stay consistent all the way through.”
Petter Solberg: “We’ve been working hard to develop the car in Wales this week, so hopefully we’ll see an improvement when we get to Greece next weekend. I think we also need a change of luck! Of course this event has always been difficult with the weather and rough tracks, although the new stages might be slightly less demanding on the car. We will know when we do the recce, but to be honest I don’t care if the stages are tougher or easier, I will always try my best.”
Chris Atkinson: “It’s hard to make a prediction before I test the car today [Friday], but there were moments in Sardinia when we were right where we wanted to be. Our pace on the opening morning was promising and right now we’re trying to ensure we can attack like that all the way through the Acropolis Rally. We already know it’s going to be one of the toughest events of the year. The rally throws up so many variables and you’ve got to stay sharp from start to finish.”
Further Information
Between The Rallies
There’s been little time for rest and relaxation for the Subaru World Rally Team’s star drivers since Rally d’Italia-Sardegna ended on 20 May. The drivers all left the Italian island on the Monday after the event. Petter and Phil joined the test team for two days of driving deep in the countryside of mid-Wales, on Wednesday and Thursday. Chris is scheduled to take over testing duties today (Friday 25 May). Chris, Phil and Stephane are due to join the team to begin their pre-rally preparations on Sunday, with Petter following on Monday. Meanwhile, the bulk of the equipment has been transported straight from Sardinia to Greece without returning to the team’s UK headquarters in Banbury, Oxfordshire.
I am easily satisfied with the very best.
"It is a very good looking car, If you have cataract" - JC about the Alpine A610
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