Before the stage there were many questions on everybodies lips.
Will the dust be a problem for the drivers ? especially Petter Solberg?
Will Sebastien Ogier play tactics again and hand his lead away?
Will the other drivers play tactitcs for a more favorable road position?
The fastest time for the night stage was set by Jari-Matti Latvala who has had enough problems this rally to last him a life time. He has been setting impressive times the last few stages but it really isnt of much benefit to him. He is just showing the pace he has when his car is in good working order. He set a time of 12m50.9s, : “I kept it going, I wanted to come fast. It went well, I was happy. We should drive all night now! I’m ready for it!”
Jari was 5.3s quicker than Loeb who was handed the rally lead after the final stage when his Team mate Sebastien Ogier played the game and slowed down in the stage but tried to convince the stage end reporters that he had no clue where he was overall. He set a time of 13m13.5 6th fastest on the stage. At the stage end he had this to say..
I don’t know where I am [overall]. It was very difficult on this stage, difficult to drive. I have to wait to see where I am.”
Mikko Hirvonen set the third fastest time 7.4s off his team mates blistering time, 2.1s off Loeb:
“It was okay, I couldn’t see anything in places so not such a level playing field for everybody. We have a good position for tomorrow where we can race with the boys, so game on.”
Petter Solberg set the 4th fastest time and was very disappointed with it.Petter Solberg completed SS13 in 13m09.6s.
STAGE TIMES
| Pos | No | Driver | Time | Diff Prev | Diff 1st |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 4 | J. LATVALA | 12:50.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 2. | 1 | S. LOEB | 12:56.2 | +5.3 | +5.3 |
| 3. | 3 | M. HIRVONEN | 12:58.3 | +2.1 | +7.4 |
| 4. | 11 | P. SOLBERG | 13:09.6 | +11.3 | +18.7 |
| 5. | 19 | L. ATHANASSOULAS | 13:11.9 | +2.3 | +21.0 |
| 6. | 2 | S. OGIER | 13:13.5 | +1.6 | +22.6 |
| 7. | 6 | M. ØSTBERG | 13:19.2 | +5.7 | +28.3 |
| 8. | 5 | M. WILSON | 13:26.7 | +7.5 | +35.8 |
| 9. | 23 | N. AL-ATTIYAH | 13:29.3 | +2.6 | +38.4 |
| 10. | 8 | K. RÄIKKÖNEN | 13:32.4 | +3.1 | +41.5 |
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