Transiberian Rally. Day 5
VICTORY FOR LUC ALPHAND AT THE TRANSIBERIAN RALLY
AND DOUBLE TRIUMPH FOR NANI ROMA IN THE LAST TWO SPECIALS
The Frenchman secures the victory for Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart.
Nani Roma leaves the Transiberian Rally running the fastest
times during the last day with the MPR14 Diesel
Luc Alphand and co-driver Gilles Picard were proclaimed this
afternoon winners of the Transiberian Rally disputed in Portugal
after a tough test, thus claiming the first victory of the
2008 season for the Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart team. The Frenchman
did it behind the wheel of the Mitsubishi MPR13, after the
big protagonists of the Portugese test, Spaniard Nani Roma,
co-driver Lucas Cruz and the Mitsubishi MPR14 Diesel withdrew
yesterday due to mechanical problems after having dominated
the race practically from the start.
In spite of yesterday's withdrawal, Roma competed again today
with his car repaired as set out by the rules -though penalised-,
and that gave him the chance to show he was the fastest during
both specials, a demonstration of how a simple mechanical
fault due to the car's early development has dashed his hopes
of claiming the victory.
During the two specials of the day, the Repsol Mitsubishi
Ralliart team Monteros clearly dominated. During the first
special, SS8, Nani Roma overcame yesterday's deception taking
another victory, followed by teammate Peterhansel -second
at 5 secs-, Qatari Al-Attiyah over a minute behind, and Alphand
fourth at 1 minute 14 secs. During the second and definitive
special, SS9, Nani Roma was again the fastest with his Montero
MPR14 Diesel, followed by Peterhansel at 7 seconds and Alphand
at 1 minute 48 secs.
Alphand finished the Transiberian Rally in first position
with a margin of 35 minutes over the second classified, Qatari
Nasser Al-Attiyah and his BMW X3 CC. Teammate in Repsol Mitsubishi
Ralliart, Frenchman Stéphane Peterhansel, who fell
to intermediate positions in the classification when he skidded
off the track last Friday, climbed to a final fifth position,
and Nani Roma, after yesterday's mechanical problems when
he was firmly leading the Rally, recovered positions today
thanks to to his two victories, finishing twelfth.
Nani Roma, in spite of not claiming a deserved victory at
the Transiberian Rally due to mechanical problems, leaves
satisfied having claimed with his Mitsubishi Montero MPR14
Diesel the first three victories in specials with this new
car, which is still in development stages, and which made
its appearance in competitions hardly a month ago, its first
race being the Central Europe Rally with teammate Hiroshi
Masuoka behind the wheel.
The next event for the Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart team will
be in Spain, in July, at the Baja Aragón race.
Quotes
Luc Alphand >>
“As was expected, we found all types of ground and our
Montero Evolution MPR13 was always at a very high level. Our
plan for this rally wasn't to wait for others to make mistakes,
but we've been attacking as hard as we could right from the
start.
Before the only problem we had on Saturday morning -a mechanical
fault-, we were only 25 seconds behind Nani Roma. I want to
thank all the members of the Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart team
for their faultless work and also my co-driver Gilles Picard,
who did not make a single mistake in spite of the fast pace
we've been running.”
Stéphane Peterhansel >>
“I like this test a lot, I think it's well organised
and has very interesting specials. Unfortunately we lost all
options of winning during the fourth special on Friday, but
I'd like to congratulate Luc -Alphand- and Gilles -Pcard-,
because they've done a great job and have secured the victory
for Team Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart.
I've obviously kept my eye on Nani -Roma-'s development with
the MPR14 Diesel, and in spite of the small problems they've
had, I think the car has great potential. And that is evidently
good for all of us.”
"Nani" Roma >>
“Today we won both stages again, so we're still very
competitive in spite of having lost our options of winning.
What happened to us is a shame, because we were running a
great race and the new car was truly competitive. But anyway,
these things happen and we were aware that these problems
could arise with a new car.
But our conclusions after our experience with the MPR14 Diesel
are good; the car is very competitive and we've also performed
at a very high level, when the MPR14 Diesel still hasn't developed
its full potential yet. I'd like to take the opportunity to
thank the whole team for the great work they've done during
the test and with this new car. Now we have to think about
the next events ahead of us.”
Results
>> DAY 5
Special 1
1. ROMA - CRUZ SENRA (REPSOL MITSUBISHI) 1:55:14
2. PETERHANSEL - COTTRET (REPSOL MITSUBISHI) at 00:05
3. AL ATTIYAH - THÖRNER (BMW) at 01:03
4. ALPHAND - PICARD (REPSOL MITSUBISHI) at 01:14
5. NOVISTSKY - TYUPENKIN (BMW) at 02:01
Special 2
1. ROMA - CRUZ SENRA (REPSOL MITSUBISHI) 1:49:14
2. PETERHANSEL - COTTRET (REPSOL MITSUBISHI) at 00:07
3. ALPHAND - PICARD (REPSOL MITSUBISHI) at 01:48
4. AL ATTIYAH - THÖRNER (BMW) at 02:33
5. CAMPOS - BAPTISTA (BMW) at 04:27
>> RALLY
1. ALPHAND - PICARD (REPSOL MITSUBISHI) 16:25:28
2. AL ATTIYAH - THÖRNER (BMW) at 35:46
3. CAMPOS - BAPTISTA (BMW) at 45:57
4. OLIVEIRA - MARQUES (NISSAN) at 01:08:26
5. PETERHANSEL - COTTRET (REPSOL MITSUBISHI) at 01:13:05
12. ROMA - CRUZ SENRA (REPSOL MITSUBISHI) at 08:05:27
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