WRC
Rally Turkey: Skoda leg two summary
* Toni Gardemeister climbs the leaderboard to sixth place * Motorsport Director Kohoutek very proud of team * Skoda Octavia WRC holds up well Day two of the Rally of Turkey was a very good day for the Skoda Motorsport World Rally Team. The Skoda ...
Edited: Mar 3, 2003, 4:55 AM
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* Toni Gardemeister climbs the leaderboard to sixth place
* Motorsport Director Kohoutek very proud of team
* Skoda Octavia WRC holds up well
Day two of the Rally of Turkey was a very good day for the Skoda Motorsport World Rally Team. The Skoda Octavia WRC went through all stages faultlessly, Toni Gardemeister and Paavo Lukander kept a good pace yet stayed out of trouble, and the team serviced the car swiftly making adjustments and improvements on the way.
After the first two stages of the day, setting a 12th and a tenth fastest time, Toni was not so happy, saying: "The first stage was very rough, and there was some ice on the road, which was difficult to see. The Octavia slid a bit, mainly at the back. I hit the banks with the back of the car many times. Like yesterday, we see a lot of stones, and I bent a suspension against one."
The Skoda Motorsport crew changed the suspension arm and the shock absorbers during the morning service, and this appeared to be a great improvement. Toni set ninth fastest time on special stage nine, and in stages 10 and 11 Toni was seventh quickest. Then he really pressed on and finished the last two stages in fourth and sixth position. The 27-year old Finn started the day in 10th place overall and climbed up to sixth position by the end of the day.
Toni had a good explanation for his remarkable improvement during the day, saying: "It was a lot better after the first service, when we changed a few things. The last stages were slightly smoother also, and we were able to drive around the stones. We had more grip this afternoon, and when the Octavia WRC has grip, it goes really well."
Petr Kohoutek, Director of Motorsport at Skoda Auto, looks back on the day with satisfaction. "I am very proud of all team members. They did their work in an excellent way and kept the Octavia WRC in good shape. I am also very proud of Toni and Paavo who did a fantastic job."
But tomorrow is another day. Although a local expert says that it might rain tomorrow, Toni hopes for dry weather. "We will have the same rough stages as the first day, so it will be difficult. When it is dry, I should be able to defend my position", he said. Director Kohoutek does not want to make any predictions, saying: "Anything can happen, as they say in rallying."
The last day of the Rally of Turkey will start at 7.00 am, and as on day one, five special stages will be run. The rally will finish at 15.45 with the podium ceremony in Kemer.
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