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2003 FIA Junior World Rally Championship
Round 1 -Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo (23-26 January)
Friday 24 January 2003
SUZUKIS IN A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN ON THE MONTE!
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| Daniel Carlsson heading for the
lead in JWRC! |
Daniel Carlsson's Junior World Championship Suzuki Ignis has
dominated the first leg of the Monte Carlo Rally ?the most historic
event and specialised event of the calendar. He leads overnight
by over a minute, having won four stages, while the other three
Suzuki teams are also well-placed to attack tomorrow.
The cars were instantly on the pace, leading the rally in one-two
formation after stage two. It was the first time a Suzuki has
led a Junior World Championship rally, and a well-deserved reward
for all the hard work the teams have put in over the winter.
Four of the two-wheel drive 1600cc Suzuki Ignis cars took the
ceremonial start outside Monte Carlo's Casino last night. After
six special stages, 707 kilometres and a 15-hour day, the cars
now lie first, eighth, ninth and eleventh.
"I'm happier than I can say," said an overjoyed Carlsson at
final service. "Today has been a truly historic day for both
Suzuki and myself!"
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As is normal for Monte Carlo, today was characterised by mixed
conditions that meant the drivers could start a stage in bright
sunshine but end it in a snowstorm! Conditions were extremely
icy, forcing drivers to judge their braking to perfection. Amongst
the biggest of today's challenges were two runs through the
longest stage of the rally -the 47.27 kilometres of Plan deVitrolles.
Several of the sport's top stars have already been caught out
and forced to retire.
Our teams in action
Suzuki Ignis Number 52, Daniel Carlsson (S)/Mattias Andersson
(S)
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Carlsson finished the day with a magnificent
lead, despite a day full of adventure. This was despite a left-rear
puncture for eight kilometres of SS1, and losing time on SS2
after catching a slower competitor three kilometres from the
finish. On SS3 Carlsson had to stop and change a puncture, losing
more than three minutes. On stage four he went off, as the spare
wheel he had changed was a slick asphalt tyre rather than a
studded tyre suited to the icy conditions. Despite this brief
excursion into the scenery, in which the bumper and the door
were damaged, Carlsson still set fastest time! On stages five
and six -the longest of the rally at 47 kilometres each ?Carlsson
was untouchable. He was fastest by over a minute on both stages,
catching a World Rally Car that had started earlier!
He commented: "What can I say? This is more than I ever dreamed
of. The car and the team have been truly fantastic, and this
has been the best day of rallying of my life. It's a wonderful
feeling ?but we cannot get over-excited yet. We've still got
an important job to do on the remaining days of the rally!"
Suzuki Ignis Number 64, Ville-Pertti Teuronen (FIN)/Harri
Kaapro (FIN)
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Teuronen finished the day ninth, having learnt
a lot about the conditions. He had an excellent run through
both of the opening stages, setting a third and a second fastest
time. He surprised himself with his own pace, as the objective
was always to learn the car and the event.
On SS3 he had three spins due to an incorrect tyre choice, but
he acknowledged that this was all part of the learning process.
On SS4 he had another spin for the same reason, but was still
eighth fastest. On SS5, he went off and dropped six minutes,
because of a slight error in the pace notes. The car became
stuck in mud, and it took a while to get it out. His trials
were not yet over: on SS6 there was a puncture which he had
to stop and change.
"I didn't expect to be quite so quick this morning," he said.
"My job here is to learn. It was a pity with all the spins I
had, but sometimes to learn you have to make mistakes! The main
thing is that I now know how to approach the stages tomorrow,
and I think we can go well. Daniel's times have shown the potential
of the car, and I would like to be the first to congratulate
him!"
Suzuki Ignis Number 69, Salvador Canellas (E)/Xavier Amigo
(E)
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Canellas returned to Monte Carlo in 11th.
He had no problems through the opening loop of stages, and opted
for a cautious yet rapid start. He drove steadily throughout
the day, and was completely free of mechanical problems or mistakes.
His only piece of bad luck came on the final stage, when he
had to stop and change a puncture.
He said: "I've really enjoyed my first rally in the Suzuki Ignis
so far. Today was all about trying to learn the car and get
round the rally; maybe we will push a little more tomorrow in
the places where we feel confident. But you never know how far
to push in Monte Carlo ?it is the sort of rally that can bite
back!"
Suzuki Ignis Number 71, Urmo Aava (EE)/Kuldar Sikk (EE)
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Aava was eighth at the end of the day. He
set a fourth fastest time on the second stage, but said that
he was concentrating only on getting to the finish. On SS3 he
was sixth fastest, and he had a spin on SS4. For the two long
stages he had a fast, clean, problem-free run which contributed
to his excellent finishing position at the end of the leg.
He said: "I wasn't even looking at the times. I only want to
learn something about the event and the car. I think we've succeeded
at that, and I've surprised myself with some of the times we
are able to set without even pushing particularly hard. The
car is very easy to drive, but I think its driver still needs
a lot more experience of these types of rallies! The important
thing is that the car has been 100% reliable, which has allowed
me to learn so much."
Team manager Monster Sport Europe, Risto Laine was more than
delighted with the performance of the Suzuki Ignis on the first
day of the season-opening Monte Carlo Rally.
He said: "I think we proved a point today. Our cars and drivers
have been amazing, and they have entirely justified the enormous
faith we put in them. Monte Carlo is never easy, so for the
cars to finish today as well as they have done is a huge achievement.
We've experienced no major mechanical problems and we're looking
forward to more of the same tomorrow!"
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Today in the JWRC
Although Carlsson led overnight, Suzuki
were not the only newcomers to do well. Renault and VW were
also on the pace, as can be seen from reigning French champion
Tirabissi's second place and Katajamaki's third place. All seven
remaining Junior WRC makes seem closely matched in competing
for the Monte Carlo honours.
Rally Monte Carlo Day 2
Tomorrow's route takes drivers over four stages to the north
of Monaco, covering 114 competitive kilometres. Although the
route will be shorter (day one contained nearly half of the
total competitive distance) drivers will face exactly the same
hazards. Black ice and slippery corners will make tyre choice
critical, especially as the Junior World Championship cars do
not have the four-wheel drive of World Rally Cars.
Monte Carlo is a rally that is impossible to win without taking
certain risks ?but taking too many risks will lead to an early
and spectacular retirement. The first car leaves service on
the harbourside in Monaco at 0640 CET tomorrow, and returns
to Parc Ferme at 1650.
Suzuki versus rivals
SS1 Prunieres Embrun 1 (28.36km)
Fastest JWRC: Tirabassi (Renault Clio) 21m16.2s
Carlsson (2nd fastest): 21m31.6s
Teuronen (3rd fastest): 21m32.5s
Canellas (7th fastest): 21m53.4s
Aava (14th fastest): 22m25.3s
SS2 Selonnet Breziers 1 (22.52km)
Fastest JWRC: Carlsson (Suzuki Ignis) 18m12.2s
Teuronen (2nd fastest): 18m34.6s
Canellas (7th fastest): 18m55.4s
Aava (4th fastest): 18m48.9s
SS3 Prunieres Embrun 2 (28.36km)
Fastest JWRC: Baldacci (Fiat Punto) 20m26.1s
Carlsson (18th fastest): 23m44.5s
Teuronen (16th fastest): 22m20.1s
Canellas (14th fastest): 22m13.6s
Aava (6th fastest): 21m18.4s
SS4 Selonnet Breziers 2 (22.5km)
Fastest JWRC: Carlsson (Suzuki Ignis) 17m43.2s
Teuronen (8th fastest): 18m25.0s
Canellas (7th fastest): 18m23.8s
Aava (19th fastest): 20m54.6s
SS5 Plan de Vitrolles Faye 1 (47.3km)
Fastest JWRC: Carlsson (Suzuki Ignis) 33m21.5s
Teuronen (20th fastest): 39m25.9s
Canellas (4th fastest): 35m08.4s
Aava (9th fastest): 35m57.2s
SS6 Plan de Vitrolles Faye 2 (47.3km)
Fastest JWRC: Carlsson (Suzuki Ignis) 34m51.6s
Teuronen (4th fastest): 37m49.0s
Canellas (15th fastest): 43m16.3s
Aava (7th fastest): 38m29.9s
Junior World Championship results at end of leg one, Monte
Carlo Rally
1 Carlsson (Suzuki Ignis) 2h29m24.6s
2 Tirabassi (Renault Clio) 2h30m54.4s
3 Katajamaki (VW Polo) 2h31m28.8s
4 Broccoli (Opel Corca) 2h35m06.3s
5 Ligato (Fiat Punto) 2h35m35.8s
6 Svedlund (VW Polo) 2h36m39.8s
8 Aava (Suzuki Ignis) 2h37m54.3s
9 Teuronen (Suzuki Ignis) 2h38m07.1s
11 Canellas (Suzuki Ignis) 2h39m50.9s
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