N-WRC: Rally France: Red Bull leg 2 summary

Gassner Jr flies for Red Bull in France

Hermann Gassner Jr produced a stunning performance on the second day of Rallye de France by setting a succession of top three times in the conventional Group N class for the Red Bull Rallye Team.

The 21-year-old's Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX is older and less sophisticated than the cars being used by many of his rivals. Despite this handicap, Gassner Jr excelled in the tricky conditions and impressed with his pace.

However, luck deserted the rising German star when his car suffered a mechanical fault prior to the day's final stage and refused to restart, forcing him to retire from Saturday's action.

"Today has been Hermann's best day since he started rallying with us so it is a real shame he wasn't able to complete all the stages," said team boss Raimund Baumschlager. "He has been in the top three of Group N and the results have been very good and not just in terms of his pace but the way he has been working with his pacenotes. It is a real sign that everything is really coming together.

"It's not been easy because of all the mud and gravel on the road. For him to do these times with so little experience is a fantastic achievement for both him and Kathi, his co-driver. I really have been very impressed."

Apart from a front-right puncture close to the finish of stage 10, little had troubled Gassner Jr and Wuestenhagen prior to the final stage of the day.

"It was difficult in the conditions because we have not really experienced anything like this before with the control WRC tyre. But there were no mistakes from Hermann, just a very good display," said Wuestenhagen.

Gassner Jr added: "After the problems with the driveshaft yesterday we were not really in the fight so there was no point taking any crazy risks in the tricky conditions. I came here to get more experience and that's what I have done but I am obviously disappointed about how today ended."

Rallye de France concludes tomorrow, Sunday, with four more all-asphalt stages. Gassner Jr's car is now being brought back to the service park in Strasbourg where it will undergo a full technical inspection before a decision is made on whether he will be able to restart under SupeRally regulations.

-source: red bull