Catalunya - C2 Junior Experience - Leg 2 Leg two of the Catalunya Rally got underway in drier weather than had been the case the day before. Nonetheless, the drivers still found damp and dirty patches on the stages this morning, forcing them to drive cautiously. On the
menu for the day were two identical loops of four stages, including a re-run of the shakedown but in the other direction.
Martin Prokop, the leading C2 Super 1600 driver, started the opening loop of stages carefully. Having got past his main rival – Urmo Aava, who picked up a puncture – the Czech driver was assured of second place in the Juniors. He held onto the place all the way to the end of the leg and is now less than a minute behind the leader – especially thanks to two fastest times.
In fifth place, Conrad Rautenbach was still looking for a comfortable rhythm in the morning but he picked up his pace during the second loop.
The German Aaron Burkart, who went off the road yesterday, consolidated his position during the morning in tricky conditions. He gained two places compared to the day before and ended up ninth.
Finally, Yeray Lemes – who was on sparkling form yesterday – got off to a lightning start and set his first ever fastest stage time on the World Championship on SS8. Unfortunately the Spaniard fell victim to an oil leak on the re-run of the stage (SS12) that forced him to retire on the last stage of the day.
Having lost more than 16 minutes on SS12, he is 15th overnight and will not start tomorrow in the SupeRally system.
In the C2-R2 classification, Yoann Bonato is still leading. He is now eighth after a consistent rally in which he has been able to keep his place and his margin over his main rivals.
Behind him, Gilles Schammel has also fulfilled his objective for the day. The Kronos Junior Team driver has put in a good performance and is now 10th, ahead of his team mate and rival Shaun Gallagher.
The Irishman has little left to gain, with his lead of the rookie championship and the C2-R2 classification over the six rounds of the championship. He is more than a minute behind Schammel, in 12th place.
The young Vilius Rozukas is still getting to know these stages and is taking no risks with a solid performance. He returns to parc ferme in 13th place.
Stefano Benoni got to grips with this rally quickly, setting second-fastest C2-R2 time on the opening stage of the day. Unfortunately he went off on SS8, Coll del Grau 1, ending up on his roof. He decided to not re-start under the super rally rules.
Yoann Bonato - Citroën C2-R2
"I looked after my place throughout the leg. I didn't take any unnecessary risks by pushing too hard in the morning on the dirty sections of road. I've been driving carefully all day and I'm happy with my position. The car is working well so I'm going to carry on like this tomorrow."
Aaron Burkart - Citroën C2 Super 1600
"Today, I was much more careful than I was yesterday. I didn't want to make the same mistake. We had a few scares because of loose gravel on the road, but everything went well for us generally."
Shaun Gallagher - Citroën C2-R2
"Everything went well for me during the second leg. I'm keeping up a good rhythm without attacking. My position leading the rookie championship and the C2-R2 classification allows me to relax a bit. I'm hoping just to keep the same rhythm tomorrow."
Yeray Lemes - Citroën C2 Super 1600
"I had a lot of confidence with the car this morning. It's only my second rally with the C2 Super 1600 so I'm happy with our performance. Nonetheless, leg two wasn't quite satisfying enough!"
Martin Prokop - Citroën C2 Super 1600
"This morning, it was somehow a struggle for me to drive well. I don't know why, but my times weren't really good enough. Having said that, I'm pleased to be second behind Urmo (Aava) tonight. Tomorrow I hope that I can keep up the same pace and hold onto second position."
Conrad Rautenbach - Citroën C2 Super 1600
"During the first loop of stages, I had the same feeling as I did on the first day. I wasn't quite comfortable with the car. Then on the second run through the stages things changes and I could find a good rhythm to hang onto my place until the end of the leg."
Vilius Rozukas - Citroën C2-R2
"My learning experience with the C2-R2 continues. I had no problems with the car. Everything went well in the morning and on the second run through the stages I found a bit more grip and I could push the capabilities of the car to the maximum."
Gilles Schammel - Citroën C2-R2
"We drove well today. Nonetheless, we can't quite keep up with Yoann (Bonato) on the quick sections. Our goal is to have fun while keeping our place in front of Shaun Gallagher."
Source Citroën Sport
