The correct tyre choice proved crucial to the outcome of Friday’s three difficult stages. The MINI WRC Team had the right strategy, ensuring Dani Sordo heads for the weekend portion of the Monte in second place overall.
For the MINI WRC Team more than 70 per cent of the Rally Monte Carlo is complete, with Dani Sordo and Pierre Campana performing strongly. Both MINI John Cooper Works WRC drivers completed the three stages on this “difficult Friday”, as team principal Dave Wilcock referred to the Monte’s third day, without problems. That Dani briefly handed second place overall to Petter Solberg after Friday’s opening stage was simply due to the MINI WRC Team’s conservative choice of tyres. However, on the next stage the team’s tyre strategy proved correct when Dani promptly reclaimed second place overall.
Special Stage 13: The third and final special stage of the day also proved good for Dani. In the number 37 MINI John Cooper Works WRC number he set the fourth fastest time as Petter Solberg, attempting to reduce Dani’s advantage, suffered a puncture. Thus he finished 9,2 seconds behind Dani, who now heads into the weekend portion 1:06.8 minutes ahead of Solberg.
Pierre Campana again delivered a balanced performance to continue holding seventh overall as Armindo Araujo proves the best MINI WRC privateer on the Rally Monte Carlo. Following another solid performance on Friday he moves up a place in the standings to occupy tenth overall.
On Saturday, special stage 14, totalling 23,41 competitive kilometres, starts at 3.11 pm local time.
Special Stage 12: After his stage time on the eleventh test had relegated Dani behind rival Petter Solberg, the tables turned on the final stage before the short break. Relying on four unspiked winter tyres, Dani records the fourth-best time as Solberg, running a mix of soft and spiked tyres, battles in the icy wet conditions. He loses over a minute to lay a total of 57,6 seconds adrift of Dani. This is tyre roulette at its best.
Pierre Campana, shod with four spiked tyres, records the third-best time to head for the break in a consolidated seventh place overall. Only one stage remains to be tackled after lunch, although tyre choice is expected to influence the final outcome of the third Monte day due to a continuation of the difficult wintry conditions.
Special Stage 11: Dani raises eyebrows as he sets a time 3,5 seconds faster than Sébastien Loeb over the third day’s opening stage; however, these soon turn to puzzled brows as Petter Solberg is a hardly believable 13,2 seconds up on Dani. Thus the pre-lunch duel between Dani and Petter continues into the next round as Solberg claims second overall by 9,5 seconds.
Bron: MINI Motorsport
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