Inside Rally

After a fantastic morning in Monte carlo, Rally leader Jari Matti Latvala’s rally was turned up side down. literally. After mid day service Latvala went into the final loop of stages on day 1 with a 30 seconds lead over 8 times world rally champion & 5 times Monte winner Sebastien Loeb. Disaster hit him 10Km’s into the final stage of the day, when Latvala missed a pace note and rolled his Ford Fiesta RS WRC. Both Latvala and co-driver Mikka Antilla were ok but it put an end to their rally. Monte carlo has no ‘superRally’ regulations, after event organisers in 2012 have the option to use it or not, it will be the end for Latvala this week in Monaco.

This puts 5 times Monte winner Sebastien Loeb in front. Loeb is know for his unbeatable pace on asphalt, however with Monte’s unpredictable conditions and tactics on tyre choices, it could change very easily. With 4 days of the event still to go, anything could still happen.

Loeb has a 1 minute lead over 2nd placed Mini driver Dani Sordo, and Fords driver Petter Solberg in 3rd just 1 second behind. Day 2 kicks off at 9:33 local time with the 19Km La batie d’Andaure – Lalouvesc.

End of Day 1 Results
Loeb
Sordo +1:04.2
Petter +1:05.2
Ogier +2:21.1
Novikov +2:26.5
Hirvonen +2:30.0
Delecour +2:40.9

Fords Jari Matti Latvala leads the Monte Carlo rally after the first mornings loop of stages, by 30.5 seconds to Sebastien Loeb.

Photo: D.Darrall

Stage 1, Le Moulinon – Antraigues kicked off the rally this morning. Although there were clear skies, the roads were icy. Loeb led the way and the rally after taking the first stage by 1 seconds to Mini’s Dani Sordo. Talking at stage end the 8 times champion said, “It was OK – both humid and dry, there was a bit of frost before the Col de Fayolle, the rest in good condition, next one very complicated, we’ll see what we can do. It will be complicated!” Loebs Team mate, Mikko Hirvonen completed his first stage in his Citroen DS3 3rd fastest, with Ford driver Jari Matti Latvala 4th and new team mate Petter Solberg 5th.

On the 2nd and final stage of the morning, burzet – st Martial, Jari Matti Latvala set blistering pace added to that a good tyre choice for the difficult conditions and took 50 seconds and the lead from Sebastien Loeb. “It was a good stage, the tyre choice was perfect on this stage. We cross over on tyre, one stud on the front and one on the rear.” The icy conditions cause some trouble for a few though. First was Mini driver Dani Sordo, who after braking late on a snowy patch, slid and hit the front and rear of the car, with some suspension damage but confident of getting the car back to service. novikov also had an off just 3km from the end damaging the rear left wheel, but still setting 4th quickest time.

Times overall:

Latvala leads
Loeb +30.5
Petter +40.8
Sordo +44.1
Hirvonen +1:04
Novikov +1:17.1
Tänak +2:53.8
Wilson +2:57.0
Henning +7:40.0

Day 1 kicks off with 4 stages in Valence. 2 in morning then service, with morning stages re-run. Weather forecast is Sunny clear skies with temperatures of 7C

Start Valence

SS1 9:03 Le Moulinon-Antraigues (36.87km)

SS2 10:21 Burzet – St Martial (30.48km)

Service Valence – 12:46

SS3 14:21 Le Moulinon-Antraigues (36.87km)

SS4 15:39 Burzet – St Martial (30.48km)

Evening Service Valence – 17:49

Evgeny Novikov has gone fastest on Pre-event shakedown.

Photo: D.Darrall

Because Monte Carlo in an Asphalt event, pre-event shakedown stays the same as 2011. Its only on gravel events that shakedown will be used as the new Qualifying stages. Although Shakedown doesn’t show the true pace, its the first time in 2012 that we see the drivers compare times, some in new machinery such as the like of Solberg & Hirvonen.

Shakedown Results:
1,Novikov
2. Araujo
3.Loeb
4.P.Solberg
5.Neuville
6.Latvala
7.Hirvonen
8.Sordo
9.Tanak
10.Ogier