The domination of Citroen drivers Sebastien Loeb and Mikko Hirvonen continue during the morning stages in Finland. The battle is for the third place between the teammates Jari-Matti Latvala and Petter Solberg.
The morning does not start well for the Russian driver Evgeny Novikov who crashes with his Fiesta RS WRC as left the road and rolled. Evgeny will back on the rally after the service repair. He comments after the crash:
Novikov: “We were pushing on a very fast corner - I remember it well from the race - but I was too fast. I put the car sideways and at the end of the corner we were half a meter short and I couldn’t get the car straight. We rolled two times, but we will fight to keep going and I hope the car will be ok for the next loop.”
Latvala: “I’m really trying, trying to do my best but it’s not happening, I don’t know why.”
Loeb: “I tried hard again, which is what I do since the start, but Mikko has found a really fast rhythm today. But I’m happy with my driving, it was a bit better on this stage.”
Results after SS 7:
1. S. Loeb 44:20.8
2. M. Hirvonen +6.2
3. J. Latvala +16.1
4. P. Solberg +18.6
5. M. Ostberg +24.1
6. T. Neuville +30.2