Quotes from Service D

OGIER Sébastien/INGRASSIA Julien;FRA/FRA;VOLKSWAGEN Polo R WRC:We have done a good job, but we were always with the wrong tyres. I hope that we will now make a better choice. However, there are clouds coming up, which doesn’t make the choice any easier. In case it really rains hard, it will be difficult at Panzerplatte, because the surface and thus the grip conditions are changing often. This afternoon, it will be all about making the right tyre choice. I will only be making some minor changes to the car.”

LATVALA JARI-MATTI/ANTTILA MIIKKA;FIN/FIN;VOLKSWAGEN Polo R WRC:I got yellow flags at Panzerplatte. Camili, Kremer and I then reached the scene of the accident. All in all, the morning wasn’t easy. At least, I was able to do seven kilometres at Panzerplatte and thus get a little bit of a feeling for that stage.”

NEUVILLE Thierry/GILSOUL Nicolas;BEL/BEL;HYUNDAI New i20 WRC:This wasn’t a perfect morning and the power steering failed at Panzerplatte, too. Conditions were difficult, but we had made the right tyre choice. Unfortunately, Ogier was able to pull a gap, but in spite of the problems, we are still in third place and second is still within reach. When we get the tyre choice right, we will be able to post a good time.”

ØSTBERG Mads/ FLØENE Ola;NOR/NOR;FORD Fiesta RS WRC:Unfortunately, I had the wrong set-up. I had expected rain, but it was dry. Now, I have to see what the weather will do and whether I will have to change the set-up, but I don’t know yet. I only hope that I have enough time to make the changes.”

MIKKELSEN Andreas/JÆGER Anders;NOR/NOR;VOLKSWAGEN Polo R WRC:I will try to keep the pressure up, it is always possible to make mistakes in conditions like these. Had it not been for my driving error, we could have benefitted from Séb’s wrong tyre choice. For the tyre choice, we make the final decision. Of course, we are in contact with the team and the weather and gravel crews. If it rains, it will be really difficult this afternoon, but I will continue to push hard. It will be crucial what the weather will do and if we have made the right tyre choice. I will only make some minor changes on the car.”

TÄNAK Ott/MÕLDER Raigo;EST/EST;FORD Fiesta RS WRC:The differential broke at Panzerplatte. Now, we have to repair it. Making the right tyre choice will be difficult, because the weather and road conditions change quickly.”

PADDON Hayden/KENNARD John;NZL/NZL;HYUNDAI New i20 WRC:Early this morning, I didn’t have any confidence. The grip was very difficult to judge. I won’t be making any changes on the car now, I just have to work on myself and my driving style.”

LAPPI Esapekka/FERM Janne;FIN/FIN;ŠKODA Fabia R5:This morning, we made the right tyre choice. There is nothing for me to complain about. Therefore, I won’t be making any changes to the car either. The set-up is very good. I only hope that I will be making the right tyre choice..”

KOPECKÝ Jan/DRESLER Pavel;CZE/CZE;ŠKODA Fabia R5:The morning was okay. I had made the right tyre choice for Panzerplatte, so it is annoying that we didn’t get to drive there. However, it was right to cancel the stage due to the accident. If it rains, it would be the first time at Panzerplatte in the wet for me.”

LOUBET Pierre-Louis/LANDAIS Vincent;FRA/FRA;CITROËN DS 3 R5:This morning wasn’t bad at all. This afternoon, I will continue like this, totally without pressure. If it happens to be raining, I will be making some changes on the car.”

DE MEVIUS Ghislain/JALET Johan;BEL/BEL;ŠKODA Fabia R5:For me, the morning was okay, but being here without having driven at Panzerplatte is a strange feeling. After all, it is the most important part of the day. But we will get another chance this afternoon. Currently, we are fourth in class. The three ahead of me are faster, and those behind me are slower, so I am somehow on my own.”

TEMPESTINI Simone/BERNACCHINI Giovanni ;ITA/ITA;CITROËN DS 3 R3T:I changed the set-up this morning and therefore, I don’t have to make any changes on the car now. The most difficult thing will be to get the weather prediction right and make the right tyre choice.”