News and Quotes SS 3 (Klatovy 2)

The WRC crews were up bright and early on Friday morning to start on time for the second run of the 11.78 km long Klatovy SS. Eight-time world champion Sébastien Ogier seems to have had an extra coffee at breakfast, as the Frenchman was wide awake and started the second day of the Central European Rally as the fastest driver. With an extremely impressive drive, he extended his lead and beat his teammates Takamoto Katsuta and Elfyn Evans, who secured Toyota's triple top time on this stage. The Hyundai of drivers' championship leaders Thierry Neuville and Ott Tänak followed in the time tables, with a fierce battle between the remaining competitors.

#11 Thierry Neuville (BEL) / Martijn Wydaeghe (BEL), Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid

“It was a bit more slippy than yesterday evening, I struggled a bit with understeer, but overall probably the easiest stage of the day. The difficult part is coming now. Imean it wasn’t easy in there but it’s going to be more difficult for the other ones so let’s see. (On the aerodynamic damage) It can’t be better for sure but it’s not a disaster either.

#8 Ott Tänak (EST) / Martin Järveoja (EST), Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid

“It was better than last night so clean run actually. All good. Quite consistent (road conditions).”

#17 Sébastien Ogier (FRA) / Vincent Landais (FRA), Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid

“It was a good one. Not perfect, it’s hard to make it perfect with this sort of bumpy road and a couple of places were slowly, let’s say, a little bit more slippery. But it’s a good start.”

#33 Elfyn Evans (GBR) / Scott Martin (GBR), Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid

“I felt pretty okay. No dramas. It was a clean enough run.”

#16 Adrien Fourmaux (FRA) / Alexandre Coria (FRA), Ford Puma Rally1 Hybrid

“I don’t know, I’d had a really good stage so I don’t know why we are so off of the pace. Either we over-drive and I take too much risk or we are slow. I try my best.”

#18 Takamoto Katsuta (JPN) / Aaron Johnson (IRL), Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid

“For sure slightly different conditions but thank god the organisers put a lot of anti-cuts so it was not so messy. Hopefully next one stays similar. Happy so far.”

#9 Andreas Mikkelsen (NOR) / Torstein Eriksen (NOR), Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid

“It was a clean run, for sure some places could have been a bit faster but overall a good run. Just trying to get into the rhythm, it’s going to be a long say and tricky conditions so I’m happy with the start. (My setup) is a softer car, more in transmission but much better now.”

#13 Grégoire Munster (LUX) / Louis Louka (BEL), Ford Puma Rally1 Hybrid

“There is some improvement but still struggling in some places. Also this tyre for this stage is okay but on the brake it is locking up very quickly.”

#19 Jourdan Serderidis (GRE) / Frédéric Miclotte (BEL) Ford Puma Rally1 (non-Hybrid)

“Better – now I see something! When it’s darker it’s very difficult… it’s about confidence as well!”

#20 Oliver Solberg (SWE) / Elliott Edmondson (GBR), Škoda Fabia RS Rally2

“It was okay. A little bit too careful, there was a little bit more grip than I expected. It’s okay. Clean enough. (On Rossel’s incident in SS2). Karma is a bitch I guess. The FIA don’t want to give him any penalty because it was dusty or whatever they think in their heads, I don’t know, but apparently it was dusty and I was in the way apparently so I think they’ve got to look at that again and maybe use some common sense and then we’ll see. So it doesn’t matter for me. So I just have some fun and that’s it.”

#21 Yohan Rossel (FRA) / Florian Barral (FRA), Citroën C3 Rally2

“I am just lucky for sure. It is a very hot moment. I miss a bit of concentration, I don’t know why because it’s a high level and if you did a mistake you pay cash. Just lucky to be coming back into the car – thanks all my team. It’s just on the rear right but I have a strong car for sure.”

#22 Nikolay Gryazin (BUL) / Konstantin Aleksandrov (ANA), Citroën C3 Rally2

“It feels good. The road is nice, it’s quite slippery but I try to keep on the line. I think on the first part of the stage was really crazy but the last part I just keep in the centre because it’s quite slippy in the end.”