Shakedown

Shakedown is finished, and Petter did 5 runs today. After the two first the team made some changes, that neede to be tested for the next three runs. Both Latvala and Kopecky went off the road today, and Henning had to stop and help him get back on the road. The stages are very fast but narrow, and all the drivers expect that many off them will go off the road this weekend.

Shakedown:

1. Loeb 2.00,7
2. Petter 2.01,8
3. Latvala 2.02,0
4. Grønholm 2.02,3
5. Hirvonen 2.02,8
6. Chris 2.02,9
7. Stohl 2.03,6
7. Carlsson 2.03,6
7. Henning 2.03,6

Recce

Tuesday and Wednesday before a rally Petter and Phil are driving to all the stages twice to get the correct pace notes. They use a standard Group N car, with some modifications, 250hk without a restrictor. They have to go through the stages according to a set schedule, and they are not allowed to be at the stages at another time. Chris and Glenn are driving their recce car at the same time, and there are also a third recce car following them around, just for safety. Lorraine from the team usually meets up with them around lunchtime, serving them lunch.

Swedish Rally 2007

Swedish Rally 2007 is finished, with Grønholm on the top of the podium. For Petter the rally startet great on friday, but ended with two wheels in the ditch on saturday. Yesterday afternoon SWRT also discovered a problem with the engine that would have caused major problems during Rally Norway. So bad luck turned to good luck, since he retired from this rally he is allowed to start Rally Norway with a new engine.

According to the FIA regulations they are also allowed to bring 21 of the nominated tyres for Sweden, further on to Norway. A big advantage for Petter that gives him more tyres to choose from.

Next event is Rally Norway 16. – 18. February 2007. We hope you are ready for next weekend?!?

At the servicepark yesterday afternoon the rumors were going around. No one could tell for sure that Petter would retire or go on. The mechanics were only polishing the car, they didn’t even open the hood at first, so it looked like a withdrawal – but no one confirmed it. And it was like no one dared to pop the question out – because we were all afraid to get it confirmed.

Overall classification:

1. Marcus Grønholm, Ford
2. Sebastien Loeb, Citroen +53,8
3. Miko Hirvonen, Ford +1.41,5
4. Henning Solberg, Ford +2.09,8
5. Daniel Carlsson, Citroen +3.37,8
6. Toni Gardemeister, Mitsubishi +3.54,2
7. Manfred Stohl, Citroen +5.12,5
8. Chris Atkinson, Subaru +6.04,7

Petter retired from Swedish Rally

SWRT decided to withdraw Petter from the rally after the stop on stage 10. With the timeloss there was no chance for Petter to score any points. For Rally Norway Petter must use the same engine and transmission, and he is also allowed to bring 21 of the tyres they nominated for this rally. This means that Petter will have more tyres to use at Hamar than the other competitors.

“Of course I am very disappointed about this, but now we need to look forward. The preparations for Rally Norway has allready started, and I will the my best to get on the podium there” Petter said after the decision was made. Swedish Rally continues with 5 stages tomorrow.

Petter in trouble on stage 10

As you all can imagine there were a lot of reporters waiting for an interview with Petter when he arrived back at the servicepark, after he had went off the road on stage 10. And Petter gave everyone a smile and told about what happend. He says he is really disappointed, of course, and the fight for the podium has to go on without him. “I will use the rest of the rally as a testrun, and will try to get a stagewin or two,” he says, still smiling.

On stage 10, the car hooked on to the snowbank and Petter contiuned with two wheels on the road and two in the ditch. It was impossible to get the car back on the road without help, and 25 spectators had to lift car back on to the stage.

Petter is out now doing stage 11 and 12, before he returns back to the servicepark

Overall classification after stage 10

1. Grønholm, Ford
2. Loeb, Citroen +10,5
3. Henning, Ford + 46,9
4. Hirvonen, Ford +47,2
34. Petter +14.24,9

Petter is 3rd at the end of leg 1

Petter lost his leading position after the second loop through the same stages this afternoon, but he is still on the podium. He says he is quite happy with the day and that he will do his best to get back in position tomorrow. He has been struggeling to keep the grip, as both tyres and studs were completely worn out allready at the first stage this afternoon.

The rally continues with leg 2 tomorrow and 7 stages, and finishes on sunday with 5 stages.

Overall classification 8 of 20 stages

1. Marcus Grønholm, Ford
2. Sebastien Loeb, Citroen, +11,1
3. Petter, Subaru, +22,6
4. Henning, Ford, 27,9
5. Hirvonene, Ford + 31,0
6. Gardermeister, Mitsubishi + 34,9

Regroup

Before entering the servicepark, the cars has to stop in the regroupzone. Journalists and photographers are flocking towards every car when they enter. It seems like a complete caos, but everybody usually gets their photos and interviews. Mechanics and teammanagement are also waiting to check out the car.

FX are discussing tyres with BF Goodrich.

Going into regroup we passed this guy trying to warm himself under a streetlight.

Petter in the lead

Petter is in the lead after 4 stages are finished, and is very happy. “We lost some time on the two last stages, but have done some minor changes to the set up during service. We are going out there again with pedal to the medal to get more seconds on the other guys”, Petter said with a smile before he took off again.

1. Petter
2. Grønholm, Ford +3,9
3. Gardemeister , Mitsubishi +5,0
4. Loeb, Citroen +6,0
5. Galli, Citroen +7,0
6. Henning, Ford +9,1