Date: Friday, September 14 th
Day: 1 Flash N°: 2
Special stage: Çetibeli 1 Distance: 38.10 km
Weather: Warm and dry
Road conditions: Dry and dusty but damp in places after rain
Car 1. OGIER/INGRASSIA
“Too much dust. We could not see anything. Start and the end was a bit damp but it was a
lot of dust. We asked for four minutes (gap). I was lucky to only lose a few seconds. It
could have been 20 or more.”
Car 2. EVANS/BARRITT
“We lost the intercom and managed to get it back. In the dust I could see nothing and I
went into the bank. We fiddled with some connections and it (intercom) came back.”
Car 3. SUNINEN/MARKKULA
“No problems. Difficult to find a rhythm when you are looking after the tyres. We are also
taking care a bit about the car.”
Car 4. MIKKELSEN/JAEGER-SYNNEVAAG
“I don’t see anything in some sections in there. It was impossible to drive. I hope we get
more minutes for the next one because you don’t see anything.”
Car 5. NEUVILLE/GILSOUL
“It’s a horrible morning. First we got a fire alarm in the hotel and I woke up early this
morning. Very demanding. I tried to do a good stage. It was quite wet in some places and
really slippery in some places. Our car works well in rough conditions. I could have done
better.”
Car 6. PADDON/MARSHALL
“Really difficult as everyone is telling you. A lot of dust and it’s so hard to gauge the
speed. You feel like you are losing a lot of time. It’s nice to get to the end and know that
you have not lost a lot of time.”
Car 7. LATVALA/ANTTILA
“Quite okay but a lot of dust and I was struggling to see. It started around eight kilometres
to around 30km. Really nasty to see.”
Car 8. TÄNAK/JARVEOJA
“So much dust. No chances to drive. Many places we cannot see anything. Really
dangerous at the moment.”
Car 9. LAPPI/FERM
“Let’s say the last 10km were nice and clean and the grip was good. The beginning was
so slippery and the middle section I could not see anything. It was just cruising. It was like
waiting with the clutch and just waiting to see where to go. You could miss the line by half
a metre and it’s done. Very tricky.”
Car 10. ØSTBERG/ERIKSEN
“I struggled a lot in the dust. I cannot clean my window. Something is on it like a blue film
on the screen. After the dust I never had a clean window and I lost my rhythm.”
Car 11. BREEN/MARTIN – fastest time
“I came to the end and did not know what minute we were on. Survive in the middle of the
road and no risks. It was fairly bad in places. You have to listen to what he says (Scott)
and hope for the best.”
Car 12. AL-QASSIMI/PATTERSON
“It’s really bad. It’s damp from the rain. We were cruising and not pushing. I think I was a
bit lazy in a couple of corners. But it is a long day.”
Car 31. TIDEMAND/ANDERSSON
“I was very careful and I am glad to be through this stage. The next stage is cleaner and
we will try and push there.”
Car 32. KOPECKÝ/DRESLER
“It’s quite tricky, especially with no wind at all. I think it is the same for everyone. This rally
is very long so no push.”
Car 33. GREENSMITH/GELSOMINO
Stopped 5.2km into the stage – slid wide and got stuck off the track with no damage to the
car.
