CITROËN STORMS INTO THE LEAD IN RALLY AUSTRALIA
Citroen has taken the lead in Rally Australia 2003 with the sensational Sebastian Loeb putting in four fastest stage times on the first full day of competition and taking the lead – the first time in his career he has lead a gravel event – on stage eight.
Citroën and Loeb have only ever competed in Rally Australia once before, when the talented Frenchman came to Perth last year for a test programme in preparation for this year’s event and did the rally after the testing. He finished an impressive seventh.
Not that Citroën and Loeb are doing it with out Australian help. Loeb’s Citroën Xsara WRC, and those of team mates Carlos Sainz and Colin McRae, is fitted with a secret weapon developed by Australian company Kinetic. The hydraulic anti-roll bar not just enables the Citroën Xsara to go faster on the stages, but it also provides additional confidence for the driver with boosted stability, all essential in Australia’s unique conditions, with which Citroën and Loeb has so little experience.
“It’s really fantastic!” said Citroën team boss Guy Fréquelin at the end of day one. “But Sébastien doesn’t surprise me anymore, because I know he’s able to achieve excellent results.”
However, the 2002 edition of Rally Australia does not hold found memories for the young French driver.
“Last year I felt this had been the toughest event of the year; and I never felt at ease,” he explains. “Today I’m the first to be surprised both by our times and also by the very good feeling I have with the car. This confidence simply comes from the fact that the team has done a great job. The tests undergone after Rally Finland really paid off. Since the shakedown my Xsara has been perfect and I haven’t changed a single thing.”
Colin McRae and Carlos Sainz experienced a tougher day. As Carlos did not feel 100% confident in the first loop of stages, he changed the dampers for the following set and also fitted harder tyres. He was not entirely satisfied by the modifications and he reverted to his original set-up for the final group of stages. He adopted a higher pace but the blinding sunset caused him to make a mistake in a left corner where he rolled and lost about twenty seconds. His Xsara was not damaged in the incident, and the Spaniard is ready for tomorrow’s action.
Colin McRae encountered brake problems from the start of the day, which were solved before the second loop of stages when the team discovered it was due to faulty calipers. Colin and Derek Ringer lie in eighth position overnight and will fight back on day two to score valuable points for Citroën in the Manufacturer’s Championship.
LEG 1
Stage wins:
SS1 : Petter Solberg (Subaru Impreza) – SS2 and SS3 : Marcus Grönholm (Peugeot 206) – SS4 : Markko Märtin (Ford Focus) – SS5 and SS6 : Sébastien Loeb (Citroën Xsara ) – SS7 : P. Solberg – SS8 : S. Loeb and P. Solberg – SS9 : S. Loeb – SS10 : François Duval (Ford Focus).
Leaders
SS1 : P. Solberg – SS2 to SS7 : M. Grönholm – SS8 to SS10 : S. Loeb
Positions of the Xsaras (with time differences stage by stage )
Colin McRaeDerek Ringer / Sébastien Loeb
Daniel Elena / Carlos Sainz
Marc Marti
SS1 (2, 45 km) / 5th + 1,1 s / 5th + 1,1 s / 2nd + 0,3 s
SS2 (18,49 km) / 8th + 18,3 s / 4th + 7,2 s / 7th + 18,1 s
SS3 (20,12 km) / 8th + 23,4 s / 6th + 18,1 s / 2nd + 9,1 s
SS4 (5,20 km) / 11th + 5,4 s / 4th + 1,9 s / 7th + 3 s
SS5 (15,89 km) / 7th + 9,6 s / 1 st / 9th + 11,8 s
SS6 (34,99 km) / 8th + 30,6 s / 1st / 7th + 24,3 s
SS7 (7,00 km) / 6th + 6,1 s / 4th + 3,5 s / 5th + 4,6 s
SS8 (18,49 km) / 6th + 8,3 s / 1st / 10th + 23,3 s
SS9 (20,12 km) / 7th + 14,1 s / 1st / 5 th + 9,8 s
SS10 (2,45 km) / 4th + 0,4 s / 6th + 0,5 s / 7th + 0,7 s
Overall classification after leg 1
1. S. Loeb – D. Elena (Citroën Xsara) 1 h 23 mn 52,4 s
2. P. Solberg – Ph Mills (Subaru Impreza) + 3,9 s
3. R. Burns – R. Reid ( Peugeot 206) + 39,1 s
4. T. Mäkinen – K. Lindstrom (Subaru Impreza) + 1 mn 00,2 s
5. M. Märtin – M. Park (Ford Focus) + 1 mn 05 s
6. C. Sainz - M. Marti (Citroën Xsara) + 1 mn 12,6 s
7. C. McRae – D. Ringer (Citroën Xsara) + 1 mn 25 s
8. H. Rovanperä – R. Pietilainen (Peugeot 206) + 1 mn 52,9 s
9. F. Loix – S. Smeets (Hyundai Accent) + 2 mn 41,6 s
10. D. Auriol – D. Giraudet (Skoda Fabia) + 2 mn 52,7 s
Day Two
Saturday 6 September
Second leg : 515,13 km including 124 km timed.
Start in Perth at 07.30
10 special stages
Service in Jarrahdale at 8.28, 12.51, 16.44.
Regroup in Jarrahdale at 12.21 and 18.27
Finish of leg 2 in Perth at 19.58
(ends)
For further information:
Citroën Australia Media Web Site: http://media.ateco.com.au/
Miles Williams
/ Tel: (02) 9558 7111General Manager / Fax: (02) 9558 7722
Citroën Australia / Mob: 0419 800 520
E-Mail:
Edward Rowe
/ Tel: (02) 9558 7111Public Relations Manager / Fax: (02) 9558 7722
Citroën Australia / Mob: 0407 913 244
E-Mail:
Web site: www.citroen.com.au
EJR/ejr/007
9/6/2003