Sweden : OMV Kronos Citroen WRT - Leg 2Both drivers of the OMV Kronos Citroen World Rally Team moved up one place each during the second leg of the Swedish Rally. Daniel Carlsson lies in fifth place and at least wants to defend this position against Subaru works driver
Chris Atkinson.
Despite brake problems and a wrong choice of tyres, the Austrian OMV Team Manfred Stohl and Ilka Minor profited by the fact that Finn Toni Gardemeister dropped back. Thus they finished day two in seventh place.
Carlsson and Denis Giraudet have reached the minimum goal so far at the second leg of the rally. Sunday will still be a very tough day since Atkinson is only 8.7 seconds behind.
“Of course, I will try everything to repeat last year's third place," said Carlsson. "But this is no easy task with the new car. Still, we are getting along quite well already and have achieved some satisfying times. Since we are already over one minute behind fourth place we will focus on the in-fight with Chris. This means that we will have to give at least 100 percent on Sunday."
Stohl is not dissatisfied following day two despite the fact that things could have gone much better.
During the morning the 34-year-old OMV driver complained of brake problems. These were of an entirely different nature than the ones in Monte Carlo.
“The attachment bolt of the brake pads is a little too long," Stohl explained. "Therefore it grazes the brake disc and you get the feeling as if you were braking all the time."
During the service this problem was resolved. But following this Stohl had to opt for tyres with short spikes since the others had already been used up. He nevertheless advanced to seventh overall place and promises to ride full attack on Sunday.
“Gardemeister is only 1.4 seconds behind and my lead on Latvala is only 10.8 seconds. So this promises to be a hot Sunday for me despite the cold."
Source OMV Kronos Citroen WRT
