Argentina 2012

CITROEN ARRIVED IN ARGENTINA HAVING DECIDED NOT TO APPEAL THE SCRUTINEERING DECISION AFTER THE END OF THE PORTUGUESE RALLY THAT DENIED MIKKO HIRVONEN FROM THE WIN THAT HE RICHLY DESERVED. NEITHER OF THE TWO POINTS PICKED UP BY THE SCRUTINEER WOULD HAVE BENEFITTED MIKKO AND CITROEN BUT THEY WERE DIFFERENT TO THE CAR'S HOMOLOGATION DOCUMENTS.

THE CAR'S CLUTCH SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED A PERFORATED CLUTCH PLATE BUT THE SUPPLIER HAD PROVIDED A NON-PERFORATED VERSION, THUS HEAVIER, AND THE SOLE FIA-APPROVED TURBO PROVIDED TO ALL COMPETITORS HAD EXPANDED SLIGHTLY DUE TO WEAR, AS CONFIRMED BY THE MANUFACTURERS. CITROEN HAVE NOW TIGHTENED UP THEIR OWN QUALITY CONTROL PROCEDURES TO AVOID A REPETITION.

THINGS DIDN'T START OFF TOO WELL FOR THEM ON DAY 1 EITHER! SEBASTIEN LOEB WAS LESS THAN HIS USUAL PERFECT SELF IN THE MORNING, SPINNING ON TWO OCCASIONS DOWN TO 5TH OVERALL, BUT BY THE END OF THE DAY HE WAS BACK IN THE LEAD - BY 0.1 SECOND OVER TEAM-MATE HIRVONEN.

PETTER SOLBERG WAS BLISTERINGLY QUICK AND TOOK ADVANTAGE OF LOEB'S SLIPS TO TAKE A 20 SECOND LEAD THAT IMMEDIATELY EVAPORATED WHEN A ROCK DAMAGED HIS SUSPENSION BEYOND REPAIR AND HE HAD TO RETIRE AND RE-ENTER ON DAY 2 UNDER RALLY 2 RULES. HE WAS WAY DOWN THE ORDER AND HAD 15 MINUTES OF PENALTIES BUT SITUATIONS LIKE THAT ONLY SERVE TO PUT PETTER IN FULL ATTACK MODE. HIS DRIVE BACK TO THE POINTS WAS A FEATURE.

HE EVENTUALLY FINISHED 6TH HAVING WON EVERY STAGE ON THE FINAL DAY INCLUDING THE POWER STAGE. HE REALLY IS A SIGHT TO BEHOLD WHEN HE HAS AN APPARENTLY IMPOSSIBLE TASK FACING HIM - AT FULL SPEED, TAKING ALL THE RISKS HE CAN AND OVERCOMING THEM. IF ONLY HE HAD THE LUCK THAT WOULD MAKE THAT UNNECESSARY.

HIS TEAM-MATE WAS NOT JARI-MATTI LATVALA (BROKEN COLLAR BONE IN A FITNESS TRAINING INCIDENT) BUT DANI SORDO - RELEASED TEMPORARILY BY PRO-DRIVE - AND HE ADAPTED TO THE FORD FIESTA REMARKABLY QUICKLY. HE DROVE WELL ENOUGH TO BE 3RD FOR 99% OF THE RALLY UNTIL HIS CAR LET HIM DOWN AT THE START OF THE POWER STAGE - FAILED ALTERNATOR.

BUT THE RALLY RESULT DEPENDED ON HOW THE TWO CITROEN DRIVERS FARED AGAINST EACH OTHER. MID-WAY THROUGH DAY 2, MIKKO HAD THE GAP BETWEEN THEM DOWN TO 2 SECONDS WHEN CITROEN DECIDED THAT, AFTER NIL POINTS IN PORTUGAL, ENOUGH WAS ENOUGH AND THEY DID NOT WISH TO SEE ONE OR BOTH OF THEM OFF THE ROAD. THEY DECIDED THAT A 1-2 FINISH MAXIMUM POINTS WOULD SERVE THEM BETTER AND SO THE FIGHT WAS OFF.

TWO REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENTS WERE CELEBRATED HERE - SEBASTIEN REGISTERED HIS 70TH VICTORY - WHEN WILL HE STOP WINNING - WHILST THANKS TO PETTER, FORD ACHIEVED THEIR 150TH CONSECUTIVE POINTS FINISH - A RUN THAT STRETCHES BACK TO THE MONTE IN JANUARY 2002. THEY ARE THE FIRST MANUFACTURER TO ACHIEVE THIS FEAT IN THE 39-YEAR HISTORY OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP.

Rally Results posted by
David Little
30th April 2012

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