Drivers' comments by Day 2 of Rally Spain 2013

Sébastien Ogier: It was 15km after the start. I cut a left corner there was a stone. I felt a hit and the front left rim broke. I managed to finish the stage like that. It was not strategy at all but it could be a good opportunity for me not to be first on the road tomorrow. We will see because it is still a very long way ahead.

Thierry Neuville: I’m still looking for a solution. I still didn’t find the right settings and I still lack grip. I hope this afternoon is better because I’d like to score points in the driver’s championship.

Jari-Matti Latvala: I have no other choice than to push this afternoon, because if I slow down the drivers behind me will do the same. I’ll try to increase my gap, it’s the only thing I can do. I’m quite sure that Dani Sordo will stay behind me at the end of the day.

Dani Sordo: Obviously, the rally will be decided tomorrow. For the moment it’s just a matter of position, though I think all the drivers are pushing a lot. The rally is still open because some drivers like Hirvonen or Ogier still have the chance to fight for victory tomorrow.

Mikko Hirvonen: The conditions are consistent and I felt better than yesterday. I think I can increase my pace. I am in front of Ogier, but I think he’ll pass me during the second loop and I want to keep my chances to fight for victory tomorrow alive.

Evgeny Novikov: We didn’t race on dry tarmac for a while. For me these kind of conditions are much better. I’m happy because I was able to reduce the gap with the drivers in front, thought I don’t understand why, as I am driving as I did in France.

Mads Østberg: I try to improve, but I can’t find the way to do it. This morning I changed the set-up of the car before the long stage but it didn’t work, so I left them again as they were before. Today I just had a problem when I missed a junction in the first stage this morning, but I only lost 3-4 seconds.

Martin Prokop: A very good morning. It was much easier than yesterday. I’m happy because I seem to be faster comparing to the leaders. The car works very well since the French Rally, so I’m confident, though I have a slight oversteering when pushing hard.

Nasser Al-Attiyah: Like Thierry Neuville, I had to modify the car to find the best balance, but it seems I missed something. I can’t feel when I reach the limits of the car.

Hayden Paddon: Today, in daylight, it’s easier to learn how the car behaves, but it’s still not easy. I changed the set-up of the car a lot: suspension, differentials and geometry. I used different combinations in order to see which one suits me better. Anyway, I feel relaxed and I’m enjoying the rally.

WRC2

Robert Kubica: I’m still learning this rally and every stage is a new experience for me. The road looks like the stages I already did in Italy or France. Although I come from circuit racing, it is difficult to get used to so wide roads, because it is harder to find the right line and I can’t use the road as I’d like. It upsets me a bit in the first pass, but then it’s much easier.

Elfyn Evans: I have a good pace, but it’s important to drive intelligently and avoid any mistakes. I just had a problem in the first stage yesterday night, but we solved it at the service, so now everything is working well. I’m still learning and I’m focusing on improving and learning these roads, as the gap with Kubica is already very big.

Sepp Wiegand: The morning went quite well, except for the long stage, when the car oversteered. I hit something and the rim broke and the car was sliding. It was not good for my times, but I put a good show.

END of  DAY 2:

Sébastien Ogier: It’s not great news to be 47 seconds behind. It won’t be easy tomorrow. I know my position on the road will be better but I don’t know tonight if it will be possible to fight for victory. I think Dani has a better position than I do.

Thierry Neuville: We worked a lot on the suspension and the balance of the car is now much better, with less understeering. That is why I was able to improve my times this afternoon and to catch the 3 points of the Power Stage. I lost time on Friday night and Saturday morning, so now it’s difficult to say if I’ll be able to fight for victory. I want to score some good points to keep my position in the championship standings.

Jari-Matti Latvala: I will be first on the road and it won’t be easy, but I’ll try to do my best. I’ll push as much as I can but without taking too many risks because I also think about the six points that my team needs to be World Champion, so it is very important that I finish this race.

Dani Sordo: I’ll try to do my best. Obviously to be second on the road is a good position, but I’ll keep an eye on Ogier because he might be able to recover.

Mikko Hirvonen: This afternoon I was more confident with the car and happier with my times in the long stage. The next stage wasn’t perfect because the tyres were worn. I have a good starting position for tomorrow, but there is a big gap with the leaders.

Mads Østberg: As I can’t have a good result here, the only thing I can do is to show my speed. I remember that last year I did very good times on gravel; I have to do the same tomorrow.

Martin Prokop: I changed the set-up of my car at the service before the afternoon loop and I tried to push in the long stage, but it didn’t work so I changed again before the last stage and finally found a good configuration. Pity it was the last stage on tarmac. Tomorrow my goal is to score some points for the Championship.

Hayden Paddon: This first rally with a WRC car is a one-shot, but I want to show what I can do and after two days on tarmac, I have a good opportunity to run on gravel, which is my favourite surface. This afternoon I already closed the gap with the fastest drivers and I want to do the same tomorrow.

WRC2

Robert Kubica: Except for a small mistake on the Salou Power Stage, the day went well. Now there is a new challenge ahead, which is the last leg on gravel. It will be a new experience because I never had to change so quickly. I have the first 7km to get used to the surface. The title is not my priority right now; I prefer to focus on pushing to gather more experience.