It’s a short, sharp morning’s action on the last day of the inaugural Central European Rally brought the field almost immediately back across the Austrian border to the 17.25 km Böhmerwald stage. Sebastian Ogier claimed his next stage win as a result, while as temperatures climb on the sunlit asphalt, the question of whether to opt for the softer but more heat-sensitive rubber or the more durable and compliant hard compound is key.
#33 Elfyn Evans (GBR) / Scott Martin (GBR), Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid
“Let’s have a look of course we have to try and see what’s possible on the power stage. Of course I benefitted from a clean road this morning I’m sure it won’t be the case this afternoon.”
#17 Pierre-Louis Loubet (FRA) / Benjamin Veilas (FRA), Ford Puma Rally1 Hybrid
“The transmission is broken. So if I want to see the finish I need to drive slowly. It´s getting worse and worse. I have to go really slowly unfortunately. We’ve been unlucky all this year. It’s a shame that we broke that at the start of the pretty stages.”
#3 Teemu Suninen (FIN) / Mikko Markkula (FIN), Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid
”It’s just ‘do a better job’. Nothing else. Tyres were a bit overheating all the time, maybe I should have pushed more.”
#8 Sébastien Ogier (FRA) / Vincent Landais (FRA), Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid
“It’s not that warm actually so I think it’s still okay taking the soft tyres. I take care of it. I know how to do that and it’s working.”
#8 Ott Tänak (EST) / Martin Järveoja (EST), Ford Puma Rally1 Hybrid
“We’re just driving through. At the moment power stage points are worth nothing.”
#69 Kalle Rovanperä (FIN) / Jonne Halttonen (FIN), Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid
“It’s nice feeling, everything has been quite well, and we are just enjoying in the car. Not really concentrating on the times, just trying to have fun in the car.”
#11 Thierry Neuville (BEL) / Martijn Wydaeghe (BEL), Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid
“I think the target is still to bring home first the result rather than power stage points. I mean, of course we are fighting for P2 in the championship but it won’t change our lives. We have been many times P2! It’s been a while since we have been on the top step so we deserve it and we want to bring it home.”