Quotes from Service A

OGIER Sébastien/INGRASSIA Julien, FRA/FRA, VOLKSWAGEN Polo R WRC: “This wasn’t a perfect start into the rally. I had a mistake on SS2. I am having problems with the brakes and I am not happy with the feeling for the car yet, but we are still close to the front-runners. Now, we will make some minor changes, especially on the brakes, because normally, I am not having any issues with the brakes.“

NEUVILLE Thierry/GILSOUL Nicolas, BEL/BEL, HYUNDAI New i20 WRC: “The first stage was very slippery. We did our utmost. I had problems with the handling and my confidence. Between SS1 and SS2, we made minor changes on the set-up of the shock absorbers. On SS2, conditions were better and we made it through very well. Now, we are checking the weather. We had already put the hard tyres on. We will check the set-up, because the car is difficult to drive on bumpy surfaces. We have new shocks in the car that we have already tested, but you always learn new things in competition.”

SORDO Dani/MARTÍ Marc, ESP/ESP, HYUNDAI New i20 WRC: “I am feeling my injury again after these stages. The car is okay, apart from a little oversteer.”

ØSTBERG Mads/ FLØENE Ola, NOR/NOR, FORD Fiesta RS WRC: “The first stage wasn’t too bad. Conditions were difficult, but we didn’t have any problems. Prior to SS2, I already knew that we were having problems with the brake cooling system and we assumed that it would be difficult, and that is how it turned out. Then, we also had handbrake and steering problems. Now, we have to solve these problems and when we still have some time left, we will make some changes on the set-up.”

MIKKELSEN Andreas/JÆGER Anders, NOR/NOR, VOLKSWAGEN Polo R WRC: “I didn’t expect things to go this well, but I had hoped for it. On SS1, I made a mistake. I damaged both rims on the right side in a corner. These stages don’t leave any room for mistakes, you have to drive very precisely. After the service, I will attack really hard, I want to defend my position.”

PADDON Hayden/KENNARD John, NZL/NZL, HYUNDAI New i20 WRC: “I spun on SS1. Otherwise no problems. We try to get through cleanly.”

KREMER Armin/WINKLHOFER Pirmin, DEU/DEU, ŠKODA Fabia R5: “We were having brake problems, the surface conditions were quite difficult.”

LAPPI Esapekka/FERM Janne, FIN/FIN, ŠKODA Fabia R5: “It was horrible: the most challenging stages I have ever done. The grip is changing from one corner to the next. I am not thinking about the championship, just about this event. We want to make it to the finish with a good result. Today, I just want to survive and I am looking forward to tomorrow.”


AL-KUWARI Abdulaziz/DUFFY Killian, QAT/IRL, ŠKODA Fabia R5: “We had a lot of problems, the hard tyres weren’t the right choice.”

KOPECKÝ Jan/DRESLER Pavel, CZE/CZE, ŠKODA Fabia R5: “This morning wasn’t easy, I am not happy. Hopefully, it will remain dry.”

BONATO Yoann/GIRAUDET Denis, FRA/FRA, CITROËN DS 3 R5: “It was extremely slippery. It would have been difficult without a gravel crew.”

LOUBET Pierre-Louis/LANDAIS Vincent, FRA/FRA, CITROËN DS 3 R5: “This is my first time here. I had difficulties in getting the right feeling for the car. We will not be making any changes to the car.”

KREIM Fabian/CHRISTIAN Frank, DEU/DEU, ŠKODA Fabia R5: “SS1 was more slippery than expected, we came off the road and ended up in a ditch. On SS2 I had a good feeling, but then incurred a puncture at the right front. We’ll put on hard tyres now.”

TEMPESTINI Simone/BERNACCHINI Giovanni, ITA/ITA, CITROËN DS 3 R3T: “The first stage was a wake-up call. I didn’t expect such conditions after the recce. We will make the set-up stiffer for the afternoon.”

VEIBY Ole Christian/SKJÆRMONEN Stig Rune, NOR/NOR, CITROËN DS 3 R3T: Damage to the front of the car. “I ran into a ditch on SS1 and got stuck. We still made it, but didn’t have the time to change the tyres.”

Addition SS2 – Moselland 1

TIDEMAND Pontus/ANDERSSON Jonas, SWE/SWE, ŠKODA Fabia R5: “The stage is very nice, but I spun.”

NEUVILLE Yannick/HEIGL Jürgen, BEL/AUT, ŠKODA Fabia S2000: “I hit something with the left rear wheel, the axle is bent.”

RIEBENSAHM Dirk/ZENZ Dennis, DEU/DEU, PEUGEOT 208 T16 R5: “Driving a car like this in the vineyards is a completely different world. I still have to find my way.”

WALLENWEIN Thomas/HOFMANN Benedikt, DEU/DEU, ŠKODA Fabia R5: “With this car, I am still lacking experience, but it is fun.”

GASSNER Hermann/THANNHÄUSER Karin, DEU/DEU, MITSUBISHI, Lancer Evolution X: “From the halfway point, the turbo charger didn’t work anymore. Hopefully, we can change it at the service.”

GRIEBEL Marijan/KOPZCYK Stefan, DEU/DEU, OPEL Adam R2: “Everything okay, perfect.”

TANNERT Julius/THIELEN Jennifer, DEU/LUX, OPEL Adam R2: “I am still too cautious, I have to increase my speed.”

GASSNER JR. Hermann/MAYRHOFER Ursula, DEU/DEU, TOYOTA GT86 R3: “No throttle response from km 8 onwards.”