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| Sebastien Ogier succeed in Sardinia, the first VW-fastest time |
The first morning of the Sardinia Rally is over and Mikko Hirvonen is the leader. With a total time of 25.8 seconds 1:17:30,9 minutes he is from his pursuer Petter Solberg. Although Hirvonen confessed to have completely lost his rhythm when he learned of Loeb off, put the Finn two best times and achieved the second fastest time on SS5. Solberg was able to keep up to WP4 with the Citroen, but lost on the final stage of the morning, around ten seconds to Hirvonen and dropped back.
In third place currently is Mads Ostberg. The Ford driver, however, has struggled with his Ford Fiesta. "Something very strange happened to the right rear side," said the Norwegian, who was able to locate the problem and assumed a flat. From behind him was on WP4 but now the pressure on that because his pursuer Latvala is out of the rally. "Jari has veered in a quick right turn off the road." This curve was blind and retract his Fiesta would have stood between two roads. "He had a crash and it is certain that he will not continue," said Ostberg was convinced.
Thierry Neuville injured after crash
Also at the end of the rally Thierry Neuville. The Belgians turned over in WP3 and his Citroen remained on the roof lie. When trying to put his car back on its wheels, additionally to Neuville injured hand. A little later, Citroen announced that his Citroen DS3 WRC has lost too much oil, and the rally is finished.
The beneficiaries of these failures are called Ott Tanak and Evgeny Novikov, who are now on the fourth and fifth positions. With this position, Novikov will not be satisfied, because it lacks to Östberg just 7.5 seconds.
The two Volkswagen drivers Sebastien Ogier and Andreas Mikkelsen present themselves on the Italian island also strong evidence behind them mini-driver Chris Atkinson, the seventh and eighth place. Ogier won his first fastest time on SS5 even in the Skoda Fabia S2000 and was able to let all the WRC cars behind. Thus, the Frenchman, the first driver in history, who won with a much less powerful S2000 cars a test in itself. "This test is certainly very demanding for the tires and in a Super 2000 you compassion on them a bit more," Ogier pressed a little on the brake euphoria. The top 10 will be completed by the Ford drivers Martin Prokop and Karl Kruuda.
Results Halftime Stage 1:
1. Mikko Hirvonen, Citroen 1:17:30,9
2. Petter Solberg, Ford +25.8
3. Mads Ostberg, Ford +1:05,6
4. Evgeny Novikov, Ford +1:12,9
5. Ott Tanak, Ford +2:07,9
6. Chris Atkinson, mini +2:54,1
7. Sebastien Ogier, Skoda Fabia +2:58,4
8. Andreas Mikkelsen Skoda Fabia +3:36,3
9. Martin Prokop Ford +3:43,9
10. Karl Kruuda, Ford +5:08,3
