WRC
Rally Japan: Subaru leg two summary
Reigning World Champion Petter Solberg delivered an outstanding performance aboard his Subaru Impreza WRC2004 today to extend his overall lead of Rally Japan from 12.7 seconds to 1 minute 9.2 seconds. Setting a string of consistently fast, ...
Published: Sep 5, 2004, 6:10 AM
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Reigning World Champion Petter Solberg delivered an outstanding performance aboard his Subaru Impreza WRC2004 today to extend his overall lead of Rally Japan from 12.7 seconds to 1 minute 9.2 seconds. Setting a string of consistently fast, controlled, times, including seven stage wins, the Norwegian dominated the action from the outset. Contesting Subaru's first ever WRC event on home soil, Petter's team-mate Mikko Hirvonen also had a good day. Growing in confidence with every kilometre, the Finn set some solid times in his Impreza and ended the day in seventh position overall. Both Subaru Impreza WRC2004s ran without fault all day.
Stage Reports
SS10: 0728 Pawse Kamuy 1 (7.89km)
Following yesterday's pace-setting performance, Subaru's Petter Solberg blazed through the first test of the day to take his fifth stage win and affirm his position at the top of the leaderboard. Driving his Subaru Impreza WRC2004, the reigning World Champion set the highest average speed of the event so far, recording 115.97kph over the stage's 7.89km. Featuring coarser gravel than most of the other roads used in the event, the short test from Pawse Kamuy took crews through open farmland. Running second on the road, following gearbox problems in Leg one, Peugeot's Harri Rovanpera had to contend with the worst of the loose gravel as his car swept a cleaner line for those running further down the order. He was eighth fastest, 11.6 seconds slower than Solberg. Markko Martin and Marcus Gronholm set exactly the same time to both finish second fastest, while Subaru driver Mikko Hirvonen was sixth fastest. After the finish, crews moved directly to the start of S11.
Fastest Stage Time: Solberg (Subaru) 4:12.4
SS11: 0759 Nupri Pake 1 (13.90km)
Following yesterday's pace-setting performance, Subaru's Petter Solberg blazed through the first test of the day to take his fifth stage win and affirm his position at the top of the leaderboard. Driving his Subaru Impreza WRC2004, the reigning World Champion set the highest average speed of the event so far, recording 115.97kph over the stage's 7.89km. Featuring coarser gravel than most of the other roads used in the event, the short test from Pawse Kamuy took crews through open farmland. Running second on the road, following gearbox problems in Leg one, Peugeot's Harri Rovanpera had to contend with the worst of the loose gravel as his car swept a cleaner line for those running further down the order. He was eighth fastest, 11.6 seconds slower than Solberg. Markko Martin and Marcus Gronholm set exactly the same time to both finish second fastest, while Subaru driver Mikko Hirvonen was sixth fastest. After the finish, crews moved directly to the start of S11.
Fastest Stage Time: Solberg (Subaru) 7:11.5
SS12: 0845 Rikubetsu 3 (2.80km)
A repeat of the short forest stage used twice in Leg one brought some extremely close results and less than two seconds separated the top six drivers. Subaru's Solberg continued to dominate and was fastest in his Impreza to take his third consecutive stage win (and seventh of the event). Ford's Martin was second and Loeb third. Having struggled with the set-up of his Citroen throughout Leg one, Carlos Sainz remained off the pace and was sixth fastest to remain in fifth position overall. After a misunderstanding at the stage arrival control where they checked in 1.3 seconds too early, the Subaru crew of Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen received a one-minute time penalty. After the finish, crews moved to the start of SS13.
Fastest Stage Time: Solberg (Subaru) 2:10.5
SS13: 0917 Kimun Kamuy 1 (26.03km)
Solberg maintained his sparkling pace on the first pass through the long Kimun Kamuy stage and was in a league of his own as he went fastest by a margin of 18.6 seconds. At the finish, and with 212.87km of competitive driving remaining, the World Champion had increased his overall lead to 41.2 seconds. Loeb was second fastest, while an excellent run by young Impreza driver Mikko Hirvonen saw the Finn finish third fastest. Markko Martin was fourth quickest, while Sainz was fifth and Duval, who was no longer suffering with the understeer problems he experienced on Leg one, was sixth. There were more gearbox problems for Peugeot, this time for Marcus Gronholm. Completing the stage with third gear only in his 307, the Finn was unable maintain a competitive pace, lost more than a minute and tumbled down the leaderboard from second to fourth overall.
Fastest Stage Time: Solberg (Subaru) 14:08.5
SS14: 0946 Cup Kamuy 1 (10.77km)
Solberg continued to impress the local crowds on Subaru's home event by taking his fifth consecutive win on the short Cup Kamuy test, this time by 4.2 seconds. Martin was second fastest, while Mikko Hirvonen expertly negotiated the loose, gravel stage to finish third. Gronholm continued to struggle with only third gear in his 307. Including a series of long straights and sweeping corners, the stage was one of the fastest of the event, and the Finn keenly felt the limited performance of his car. At the finish he had lost another seven seconds to the leaders, as well as collecting a 10-second penalty for a jump-start when he was unable to hold his 307 on the clutch. He fell to fifth position overall. After the finish, crews returned to the service area at Kita Aikoku for a 20-minute service.
Fastest Stage Time: Solberg (Subaru) 5:47.0
SS15: 1432 Pawse Kamuy 2 (7.89km)
Following a gearbox change for his 307 in the preceding service, a rejuvenated Gronholm was fastest through the repeated Pawse Kamuy test, which drivers have likened to the wide stages used in New Zealand. With much of the loose gravel surface having been cleared on the previous pass (SS10), speeds through the open stage were generally quicker. Petter Solberg was second fastest, but with his closest rival Sebastien Loeb finishing only fifth fastest, the Norwegian continued to extend his overall lead and ended the test with a 49 second time cushion overall. Martin was third fastest, and Duval fourth. After the finish, crews moved to the start of SS16.
Fastest Stage Time: Gronholm (Peugeot) 4:04.4
SS16: 1505 Nupri Pake 2 (13.90km)
Having made amendments to his pace notes, which he felt had been too fast on the first pass through the morning's stages, Ford's Markko Martin had more confidence on the repeated Nupri Pake. Pushing hard, the Estonian was second fastest, with his team-mate Francois Duval 1.4 seconds slower for third. However, all eyes were on the blue Subaru of the event pacesetter, Petter Solberg. Storming through the test in his Impreza, the Norwegian was once again fastest to scoop his tenth win of the event. His closest rival, Sebastien Loeb, was fifth fastest, 5.5 seconds off the winning pace and unable to challenge his overall lead. Running on Pirelli tyres, Solberg's team-mate Hirvonen was seventh fastest. Once the stage was complete, crews stopped for a refuel before moving to the start of SS17.
Fastest Stage Time: Solberg (Subaru) 7:02.2
SS17: 1551 Rikubetsu 4 (2.80km)
The fourth and final pass through the short 2.80km forest stage from Rikubetsu gave Ford's Francois Duval the opportunity to snatch his first stage win of the event. But, with less than a second separating the top five fastest times, at the finish there was no change to the overall top ten. Presenting crews with a raised loose gravel narrow road that dropped off at either side, the stage demanded the ultimate in precision driving. Grass verges hid unseen hazards such as rocks and ditches and made the cutting of corners a risky option, while tall trees formed a canopy over much of the route. There were no leading retirements and, after the stage, crews completed the 16.42 liaison distance to the start of SS18.
Fastest Stage Time: Duval (Ford) 2:12.2
SS18: 1623 Kimun Kamuy 2 (26.03km)
Once again, Petter was the pacesetter and repeated his earlier charge through the narrow Kimun Kamuy stage, to slice 17.7 seconds off his previous time and take yet another win. At the finish, he had increased his advantage to 1 minute 8 seconds. Markko Martin was second fastest, while Carlos Sainz was third, enough to move him up to fourth in the overall standings. Duval was fourth quickest, despite concern that his Ford was suffering with a rear differential problem, and Hirvonen was fifth. Not a great stage for the Peugeot team. Finnish team-mates Rovanpera and Gronholm set exactly the same time through the stage to finish seventh fastest, and end the test in overall eighth and fifth respectively.
Fastest Stage Time: Solberg (Subaru) 13:50.8
SS19: 1652 Cup Kamuy 2 (10.77km)
Setting an average speed of 114.91kph, Citroen's Carlos Sainz was fastest through the repeated Cup Kamuy test to take his second win of the event and pull ahead of Gronholm in the overall standings. With the Peugeot driver managing only seventh fastest, at the finish, 8.6 seconds separated the pair in fourth and fifth overall respectively. Solberg was second fastest, and Loeb third. A good run from Subaru's Mikko Hirvonen saw the young Finn finish fifth fastest. There was no change to the overall top ten and, after the finish, crews drove the 105.27km liaison section to the start of the final test of the day, SS20.
Fastest Stage Time: Sainz (Citroen) 5:37.4
SS20: 1916 Satsunai 2 (2.20km)
The final stage was another lap of the spectator-pleasing Super Special on the edge of the host town of Obihiro. Repeating his performance of Leg one, Carlos Sainz was again fastest round the floodlit stage, with Solberg second and Duval third. Ahead of tomorrow's second leg, Solberg holds the overnight lead with Loeb 1 minute 9.2 seconds behind in second and Martin another 31.1 seconds back in third. Subaru driver Mikko Hirvonen lies seventh overall, 1 minute 40.9 seconds behind Duval in sixth.
Fastest Stage Time: Sainz (Citroen) 1:34.1
Team Quotes
Petter Solberg
I'm very pleased with what we've achieved today. The lead is a little more comfortable now but, as I know more than most, things can change so quickly that there's no alternative than to keep pushing. The car and the tyres have been so good today, that I just have to keep focused, follow the split times and keep it steady. I'm not out to prove anything more than that.
Mikko Hirvonen "Overall it's been a good day. I'm happier with my driving on these stages than I was on Leg one, and even with a pretty bad road position I think I've found a good driving rhythm. It's a bit of a shame that I wasn't able to get this feeling straight away yesterday, but it's good to be setting some quick stage times now. Receiving the time penalty was very disappointing, there was a mix up somewhere, but we have to accept it and focus on continued improvement on the stages tomorrow.
Team Principal, David Lapworth
It's been another fantastic performance from Petter. He seems to be able to put in fast stage times whenever he wants and has been able to extend his lead without extending himself. Mikko too has had a very solid day, he's been delivering the kind of times we were looking for, and the results have helped boost his confidence on this new rally. Technically, it's been a faultless day with both cars running without any problems at all. It's now a matter of keeping things running according to the plan, remaining focused and doing everything we can to get a great result for Subaru.
Tomorrow's Leg
Sunday 5 September
The third and final leg of Rally Japan starts tomorrow at 0530hrs, when the remaining cars will leave Obihiro parc ferme. The final day will see crews travel 60km north west of Obihiro to contest six further loose gravel forest stages (a group of three repeated), followed by a final visit to the Satsunai Super Special, and a final 111.94 competitive kilometres. The winning car is expected to cross the finish ramp at 1600hrs.
-subaru-
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