Wrc.com stage summary
Stage data: SS14, Bahath 1 (12.53 kilometres)
Stage description:
By Citroen Total World Rally Team co-driver Julien Ingrassia: “This is a little bit different to the other stages because it feels more artificial. At the start it isn’t very rough and it doesn’t seem to follow the natural lines, but it is quite twisty.”
How the action unfolded:
The Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team drivers went one-two for the first time during the 2011 Jordan Rally. Mikko Hirvonen was fastest with a time of 9m30.0s, 1.8 seconds ahead of team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala. Rally leader Sebastien Ogier, running first on the road and therefore sweeping the roads clear for those following, was fifth.
“We are finally finding some rhythm,” said Hirvonen. “It’s good. You have to push a little bit to make up some time. Yesterday it was so bad, we couldn’t do anything, now it’s much better.”
The result does little to bring Hirvonen closer in the overall standings - he is now 2m24.5s behind Ogier. But Latvala is just 2.4 seconds behind Loeb, who was fourth fastest on this stage.
“I’m trying too hard,” said Loeb. “I was in a ditch at one point.”
Petter Solberg also edged closer in his privateer Citroen, third fastest and 0.6 seconds faster than Loeb, who was 1.6 seconds faster than Ogier.
The leading Citroen driver now has a gap of 23.3 seconds to his team-mate, and just 7.3 seconds separate the drivers in second, third and fourth positions.
Superally entrants Henning Solberg and Mads Ostberg were sixth and seventh fastest in their M-Sport Stobart Fiestas. Matthew Wilson was eighth quickest, 24.8 seconds slower than Hirvonen but once again faster than Kimi Raikkonen, who was a further 1.1 seconds in arrears.
“That was very difficult - it’s so, so loose,” said Wilson. “It wasn’t easy but we did okay.”
“I’m disappointed with my driving today,” said Raikkonen, who is now 7.3 seconds ahead of Wilson in sixth overall.
Key moment:
Loeb’s charge is interrupted by a small detour via a ditch.
Credit: World Rally Championship (www.wrc.com)
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