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Solberg takes over lead on second day of Cyprus Rally
Cyprus, June 22: Petter Solberg took a powerful grip of the Cyprus Rally after the second day when several of his biggest were forced to retire.
Cyprus, June 22: Petter Solberg took a powerful grip of the Cyprus Rally after the second day when several of his biggest were forced to retire.
The Norwegian Subaru driver pulled just over 25 seconds ahead of second-placed Finn Harri Rovanpera following a fascinating tussle with the Peugeot man during the latter stages of the day on Saturday (June 21). World championship leader Richard Burns dropped out on the 10th stage with engine failure while, earlier, overnight leader Marcus Gronholm bowed out after damaging his propshaft. Frenchman Sebastien Loeb in a Citroen Xsara finished in third, well clear of Briton Colin McRae but over two minutes adrift of Rovanpera who faces a dilemma on Sunday of trying to eat into Solberg's lead or settling for runners-up points. The race was littered with high-profile retirements on a course full of twisty, tricky roads, with dust and ruts to contend with under scorching heat.
McRae was fortunate to complete the 10th stage after breaking his rear suspension and Rovanpera was also forced to nurse his car through the day's early sections after encountering engine trouble when temperatures rose.
Six stages totalling more than 80 kilometres still remain on Sunday. The first three special stages on Saturday took a high toll with the Peugeots of Gronholm and Gilles Panizzi, the Ford of Markko Martin of Estonia and Frenchman Francois Duval and Belgian Freddie Loix's Hyundai all pulling out.
Burns followed them out of the race when he was in sixth place more than five-and-a-half minutes behind the lead.
Burns, who suffered from hydraulic problems on Friday, retired when his engine expired one kilometre from the service park after overheating.
Gronholm retired in the sixth special after damaging his propshaft. The Fords of Acropolis Rally winner Martin and Duval both retired during the fifth stage due to a loss of oil pressure.
Frenchman Panizzi suffered engine failure during the sixth special and Loix also retired close to the end of that stage with engine trouble.
Leading positions after the second day: 1. Petter Solberg (Norway) Subaru 3 hours 55 minutes 21.6 seconds 2. Harri Rovanpera (Finland) Peugeot 25.3 seconds behind 3. Sebastien Loeb (France) Citroen 2:44.6 4. Colin McRae (Britain) Citroen 3:29.0 5. Carlos Sainz (Spain) Citroen 4:32.9 6. Mikko Hirvonen (Finland) Ford 6:49.4 7. Armin Schwarz (Germany) Hyundai 10:03.3 8. Alistair Ginley (Britain) Ford 16:24.7 9. Toshihiro Arai (Japan) Subaru 23:13.9 10. Martin Rowe (Britain) Subaru 25:19.5
Bureau Report
The Norwegian Subaru driver pulled just over 25 seconds ahead of second-placed Finn Harri Rovanpera following a fascinating tussle with the Peugeot man during the latter stages of the day on Saturday (June 21). World championship leader Richard Burns dropped out on the 10th stage with engine failure while, earlier, overnight leader Marcus Gronholm bowed out after damaging his propshaft. Frenchman Sebastien Loeb in a Citroen Xsara finished in third, well clear of Briton Colin McRae but over two minutes adrift of Rovanpera who faces a dilemma on Sunday of trying to eat into Solberg's lead or settling for runners-up points. The race was littered with high-profile retirements on a course full of twisty, tricky roads, with dust and ruts to contend with under scorching heat.
McRae was fortunate to complete the 10th stage after breaking his rear suspension and Rovanpera was also forced to nurse his car through the day's early sections after encountering engine trouble when temperatures rose.
Six stages totalling more than 80 kilometres still remain on Sunday. The first three special stages on Saturday took a high toll with the Peugeots of Gronholm and Gilles Panizzi, the Ford of Markko Martin of Estonia and Frenchman Francois Duval and Belgian Freddie Loix's Hyundai all pulling out.
Burns followed them out of the race when he was in sixth place more than five-and-a-half minutes behind the lead.
Burns, who suffered from hydraulic problems on Friday, retired when his engine expired one kilometre from the service park after overheating.
Gronholm retired in the sixth special after damaging his propshaft. The Fords of Acropolis Rally winner Martin and Duval both retired during the fifth stage due to a loss of oil pressure.
Frenchman Panizzi suffered engine failure during the sixth special and Loix also retired close to the end of that stage with engine trouble.
Leading positions after the second day: 1. Petter Solberg (Norway) Subaru 3 hours 55 minutes 21.6 seconds 2. Harri Rovanpera (Finland) Peugeot 25.3 seconds behind 3. Sebastien Loeb (France) Citroen 2:44.6 4. Colin McRae (Britain) Citroen 3:29.0 5. Carlos Sainz (Spain) Citroen 4:32.9 6. Mikko Hirvonen (Finland) Ford 6:49.4 7. Armin Schwarz (Germany) Hyundai 10:03.3 8. Alistair Ginley (Britain) Ford 16:24.7 9. Toshihiro Arai (Japan) Subaru 23:13.9 10. Martin Rowe (Britain) Subaru 25:19.5
Bureau Report