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Marcus leads for Peugeot
Argentina Leg 1: Power steering pump failed. Harri dropped down to eight overall
(Peugeot Sport: Argentina Leg 1, July 15-16 2004)
Today's action consisted of 10 stages – split into two loops of four plus
two runs over the short spectator superspecial in the evening.
Conditions were cloudy but remained dry throughout the day. The stage
surfaces were varied, with a lot of loose gravel that made conditions
difficult for all the leading runners.
Marcus made a tyre choice that he felt was too hard for the opening
loop of stages, but still emerged in front by first service. The Finn was
fast and reliable to maintain his lead to the end of the day, despite an
intense battle with Citroen driver Carlos Sainz. In total, Marcus set five
fastest stage times and his 307WRC was entirely reliable over today's
162 competitive kilometres.
He said: “I'm generally happy with the way things have gone, although I
haven't been able to relax for one moment. Things certainly aren't
comfortable, and anything could still happen. I've been pushing
reasonably hard without going crazy, and as this is fast enough to keep
the lead my plan is to carry on like this. In the afternoon the stages were
a lot cleaner and less slippery than they were in the morning, although it
was quite rough with several deep ruts. I've got no complaints about the
car though: the team has done an excellent job.”
Power steering pump failed
Harri was also unhappy with his tyre choice over the opening loop of
stages, but a worse problem awaited him in the afternoon. His power
steering pump failed on stage seven: the first of a long loop of four
stages. Harri had to wrestle his 307 back to service over more than 70
agonising kilometres, and he dropped down to eighth overall.
“These problems always seem to happen to me when there are several
stages left before service!” he said.
“The steering suddenly failed as I was turning into a corner and from
then I knew it was going to be very hard work. I tried to fix the problem
on the road section, but it was too complicated." Harri said.
Harri: We can push hard tomorrow
"Now that the car is fine again we can push hard tomorrow. I've been
encouraged by our pace today when things were going well, so I am
sure we can score some points by the end of the rally.”
Tomorrow's action consists of nine more stages (129,39 km), including
another loop of four in the morning and two final runs over the spectator
superspecial in the evening.
Rally Argentina (WRC 8/16), July 15 -18 2004
Leg 1, 12 special stages, 168,28 stage kilometers
(total of the rally 26 SS / 382,63 km)
Positions after SS 12/26
1. Marcus Grönholm, Peugeot 307, 2h 00´52,2" (83,5 km/h)
2. Carlos Sainz, Citroen, + 00´08,4"
3. Sebastien Loeb, Citroen, + 00´33,6"
4. Francois Duval, Ford, + 02´ 50,8"
5. Kristian Sohlberg, Mitsubishi, + 04´43,5"
6. Mikko Hirvonen, Subaru, + 07´49,8"
7. L. Perez-Companc, Peugeot 206, + 08´47,2"
8. Harri Rovanperä, Peugeot 307, + 10´04,8”
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