Transiberian Rally. Stage 2
 YESTERDAY
SAW NANI ROMA TAKE THE FIRST STAGE OF THE TRANSIBERIAN RALLY
Team Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart celebrates first stage win
for new diesel-powered montero evolution
The 2008 Ralli Transiberico's first full day of competition
has seen Team Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart take control at the
top of this evening's leaderboard. Juan 'Nani' Roma/Lucas
Cruz (Spain) gave the new diesel-powered Montero Evolution
its very first stage win this afternoon to take the lead.
While Luc Alphand/Gilles Picard (France) and Stéphane
Peterhansel/Jean-Paul Cottret (France) join their Spanish
team-mates on the overnight podium. The best-placed non-Mitsubishi
runner is more than 15 minutes behind Roma.
Despite recent rain, the return of warm, sunny weather to
Central Portugal – with temperatures as high as 23°C
– ensured predominantly dry conditions for the two visits
to today's 207.49km stage through forested mountains near
Castelo Branco, close to the border with Spain. Dust was consequently
the biggest problem for most competitors during the morning's
run, although that didn't prevent Stéphane Peterhansel
from emerging as the early pace-setter.
The Frenchman headed a provisional Mitsubishi one-two-three
at the first service halt of the leg-2, but then lost a little
ground following a puncture 48km after the start of the afternoon's
repeat run. His lead was immediately snapped up, however,
by Nani Roma who profited from the occasion to put the new
diesel Montero Evolution MPR14 into the lead of a major international
event for the first time on only its second competitive outing!
"Nani's fastest time this afternoon and the fact that
he leads tonight with the new MPR14 is a great reward for
everyone involved," underlined Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart
Team Director Dominique Serieys. "Our Japanese colleagues
from Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, our partners, our own
engineers at MMSP, the drivers and the team have been working
extremely hard on this project and today's result is a great
morale booster. We now need to keep improving step by step
and using events like this to progress. There is still a long
way to go in the development of the new car."
Serieys was also pleased to see the healthy fight that opposed
his three crews in Portugal and which saw Nani Roma complete
the day's action on top spot.
Following tonight's stop in Castelo Branco (230km northeast
of Lisbon), competitors will tackle Friday's shorter, 140,58km
stage twice: once in the morning, once in the afternoon. They
will then cross the border into Spain for an overnight halt
in Badajoz (230km east of Lisbon).
Quotes
"Nani" Roma >> 3rd at 1’35 sec
"It was a good day. I've been suffering from a bad cold
these past few days, so the prospect of almost 420km of competitive
driving in one leg was physically quite difficult. That said,
we succeeded in finding a good pace and I have started to
adapt my driving style to the needs of a turbocharged diesel
engine.
This was especially important through the twistier portions.
The MPR14 and the new engine have clearly got lots of potential
and I would like to say a big thank you to all those who have
worked so hard to make it as competitive as it already is."
Luc Alphand >> 2nd at 24 sec
"We have enjoyed a good run today. There was more grip
this afternoon because the loose top-coating of gravel had
been swept clear and we profited from the first service halt
of today to make some small set-up modifications which seemed
to pay.
There was a light drizzle for the last 20km or so of SS3,
but that didn't really change the conditions."
Stéphane Peterhansel >> 1st - 5h 25
min. 15 sec.
"The rain began to fall heavily after the stage, so perhaps
the conditions will be a bit different tomorrow. That said,
Friday's stage takes place some 100km from here; we will see.
About 48km into SS3, Jean-Paul and I began to feel the car's
handling become unstable and we were forced to stop and change
the wheel.
We don't yet know what the cause was, but it's interesting
to note that the people from BFGoodrich pulled a big nail
out of one of my tyres after the morning's stage. That was
a lucky escape! Apart from that, my Montero Evolution performed
like clockwork and I hope it stays that way…"
Results
>> STAGE 2
1. ROMA - CRUZ SENRA (REPSOL MITSUBISHI) 5:19:00
2. ALPHAND - PICARD (REPSOL MITSUBISHI) at 00:28
3. PETERHANSEL - COTTRET (REPSOL MITSUBISHI) at 01:38
4. TERRANOVA - PALMER (BMW) at 15:39
5. CAMPOS - BAPTISTA (BMW) at 16:30
>> RALLY
1. ROMA - CRUZ SENRA (REPSOL MITSUBISHI) 5:25:15
2. ALPHAND - PICARD (REPSOL MITSUBISHI) at 00:24
3. PETERHANSEL - COTTRET (REPSOL MITSUBISHI) at 01:35
4. TERRANOVA - PALMER (BMW) at 15:50
5. CAMPOS - BAPTISTA (BMW) at 16:28
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