Citroën Starts 2009 With a 1-2 Finish in Ireland
2/02/2009
Citroën has made the perfect start to its defence of its twin 2008 World Rally Championship titles, with the reigning world champions Sébastien Loeb/Daniel Elena and their team mates Dani Sordo/Marc Marti repeating their result on the 2007 Rally Ireland with another one-two finish in Sligo (29 January – 1 February 2009). Despite appalling weather conditions that saw rain so heavy drivers were on snow tyres to clear the water from the tarmac Irish country lanes and the cancelation of two stages on day one, Loeb took the lead on midway through the first day and never looked back. Despite a comfortable lead and the cushion of his team mate between him and the chasing Fords, Loeb kept the pressure, setting eleven fastest stage times. Following two days of uninterrupted heavy rain, competitors were greeted by crisp dry, sunny weather in the north of Ireland for the final day of the rally. Tyre choices were once against a major topic of conversation in the service park in Sligo as crews pondered whether to continue with the Pirelli Sottozero snow tyres they had been using since Friday lunchtime or else switch to the PZero asphalt tyre?
Based on the information available to them, Citroën's crews and engineers chose to stay on Sottozeros. “If we had been looking for outright performance in the damp conditions, we would no doubt have switched to the PZero," explains Citroën Sport's Operations Manager Didier Clément. “However, given the lead Sébastien and Dani enjoyed this morning, we were able to go for the safe option. Both our two have become accustomed to the grip provided by the Sottozeros on these stages and we all believe they were the best call.” On his return to the service park after the first loop, Sébastien Loeb was pleased to have only dropped a handful of seconds to Mikko Hirvonen who had opted for PZero tyres. “To tell the truth, I'm a little surprised that we didn't lose more time to Mikko!” said Loeb “I think snow tyres were a borderline choice for the conditions, but I don't regret my decision.” Thanks to their handsome cushion, both Citroën Total World Rally Team were both able to cruise through the final two Donegal tests, with Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena going on to secure their 13th consecutive sealed surface win, their 10th in the C4 WRC. “Even though we weren't on the ideal rubber for the first loop, we were able to control from in front," commented the Frenchman. "Don't get me wrong; this weekend's win was no stroll. Given the delicate conditions, it was essential to have a car that was easy to drive and my C4 WRC was perfect from start to finish. Today's victory was obviously the best way possible to kick off this year's championship.”
Dani Sordo followed his team-mate him home in second place and was equally pleased with his result: "I'm very happy because coming second means that Citroën leaves Ireland with maximum Manufacturers' points, and it was great to have a perfectly trouble-free run, too. The conditions were very difficult, and going the full distance without making any mistakes was a challenge in itself! This result is a terrific confidence booster for the rest of the season"
Citroën Sport Director Olivier Quesnel was understandably delighted with their one-two performance. “Our team has lost none of its hunger for success and everyone played their part to perfection, including our two crews, of course, who both put in a remarkable display given the atrocious conditions. We had been hoping to start the season with a win, if only because the 2009 calendar features just 12 rounds, with only two on asphalt. There will be a high price to pay for any mistake this year. The fact that we are leading both championships after the season's curtain-raiser means we can go into the next event in a more relaxed frame of mind. That said, we won't be favourites because the second round in Norway takes place on a terrain that tends to be more suited to the Scandinavian specialists!"
Provisional final classification, 2009 Rally of Ireland
1. Loeb/Elena Citroën C4 2h48’25’’7
2. Sordo/Marti Citroën C4 +1’27’’9
3. Hirvonen/Lehtinen Ford Focus +2’07’’8
4. Solberg/Menkerud Ford Focus +6’32’’4
5. Atkinson/Prévot Citroën C4 +7’51’’9
6. Ogier/Ingrassia Citroën C4 +10’44’’0
7. Wilson/Martin Ford Focus +11’23’’8
8. Qassimi/Orr Ford Focus +14’07’’9
9. Boland/Morrissey Subaru Impreza +15’23’’4
10. Aava/Sikk Ford Focus +15’35’’4
…
18. Rautenbach/Barritt Citroën C4 +36’37’’9
Fastest stage times
Day 1 : SS1 : Jari-Matti Latvala (Ford Focus) – SS2 to 6 : Sébastien Loeb (Citroën C4) – SS7 and 8 : cancelled.
Day 2 : SS9 to 11 : Loeb – SS12 : Mikko Hirvonen (Ford Focus) – SS13 and 14 : Loeb.
Day 3 : SS15 : Hirvonen – SS16 : Loeb – SS17 to 19 : Hirvonen.
Best performers : S. Loeb, 11 fastest times – M. Hirvonen, 5 – JM. Latvala, 1.
Leaders : SS1 : JM. Latvala – SS2 and 3 : U. Aava – SS4 to 19 : S. Loeb.
