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IRC: Interwetten Rally Sardinia SS5 retirement notes
Interwetten Racing Team drops out after rollover on fifth special stage in Sardinia Until then Franz Wittmann/Klaus Wicha showcased their great talent Franz Wittmann and Klaus Wicha seem to be pursued by bad luck. For two special stages the ...
Edited: Jun 7, 2010, 1:01 AM
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Interwetten Racing Team drops out after rollover on fifth special stage in Sardinia
Until then Franz Wittmann/Klaus Wicha showcased their great talent
Franz Wittmann and Klaus Wicha seem to be pursued by bad luck. For two special stages the Interwetten Racing duo proved that one has to reckon with them on gravel. Then, at halftime of the fifth special stage (Gonnosnò, 14,53 kilometres), a right-left-combination became their undoing. Wittmann came out of the right turn too fast, hit a rock rear left and thereby destroyed his left rear tyre. Subsequently the Peugeot 207 S2000 slipped off the road and rolled over once - but driver and co remained unhurt.
Wittmann: "I simply can't explain why this happened since we didn't have any problem at this spot the first time around. I think it was a mistake in the pace notes and we were that fateful bit too fast the second time round. This retirement obviously hurts a lot for up until this moment we were able to put our potential into action. Not only couldn't we score any points but in the end we're missing valuable kilometres which we would have needed so badly."
The strong performance of the 26-year-old Lowwer Austrian can also be proven by figures. After three special stages the Interwetten-Racing driver had been in sensational sixth overall place. He only missed 2,2 seconds on fifth-placed Belgian Thierry Neuville (Peugeot 207 S2000).
"Unfortunately I can't buy me anything for three good special stages. And it wouldn't be sensible to pretend that nothing has happened. We'll have to analyse this mistake meticulously so that it won't happen again. That is the only way to improve step by step", explains Wittmann.
In the overall ranking of the Rally Sardinia after five special stages Brit Kris Meeke (Peugeot 207 S2000) leads ahead of local hero Paolo Andreucci (Peugeot 207 S2000) and Finnish IRC-leader Juho Hanninen (Skoda Fabia S2000). WRC guest starter Sebastien Ogier (Fra/Peugeot 207 S2000) already encountered a puncture after four kilometres and not long after had to finally rettire due to engine troubles.
-source: interwetten-racing
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