Solberg, Räikkönen and Van Merksteijn Jr in the top 10

Kimi Räikkönen equaled his best result of the year

The three Citroën Racing Technologies Citroën DS3 WRCs driven by Petter Solberg, Kimi Räikkönen and Peter Van Merksteijn Jr all finished in the points in Rally Germany. Petter Solberg saw the flag in fifth place and scored an additional point in the Power Stage. Kimi Räikkönen equalled his best result of the season, sixth in Jordan. Peter van Merksteijn Jr came home ninth scoring his first points in the FIA World Rally Championship.

Petter Solberg was knocked out of the fight for victory in SS2 due to a wrong tyre choice when it was raining, and he found himself up against the Ford and Mini drivers. Despite four punctures, the Petter Solberg World Rally Team driver managed to hang on to fifth place till the very end. The Norwegian was third fastest in the Power Stage scoring an additional point, and is now only two behind the fourthplaced driver in the World Rally Championship.

“For the first tarmac rally of the season we had a new car,” said Solberg at the finish. “We went quicker and quicker as the stages unfolded. Being the best privateer and fighting in the middle of the works drivers gives me additional satisfaction. We lost a lot of time because of multiple punctures. I hope we’ll be back in the battle for victory in the next event.”

Kimi Räikkönen continued his series of finishes in the top 10 in his sixth rally with the Citroën DS3 WRC and saw the flag in sixth place. Despite a spin and then a slight off on the first day, the Finn installed himself in eighth place. After passing Henning Solberg during the second leg and taking advantage of Kris Meeke’s retirement near the end of the rally, he equaled his best result of the year.

“Overall, I made a lot of mistakes during the weekend,” said Kimi ruefully. “I feel I wasn’t quick enough due to these errors. It was a complicated rally. I learned a lot especially not to put the tyres just anywhere! Last year we could cross the pavements without problems. With the new tyres it’s not possible as our puncture in the Power Stage proved.”

Peter van Merksteijn Jr with his new co-driver Erwin Mombaerts made a cautious start to his first tarmac rally in the Citroën DS3 WRC, and ended the first day in a very encouraging eleventh spot. He was quick in the redoubtable Arena Panzerplatte stage – the longest in the rally – and moved up the time sheets during the second day breaking into the top 10. Today, the Dutchman defended his ninth place against fellow-countryman Dennis Kuipers and scored his first points in the WRC.

Peter van Merksteijn Jr : “I’m really happy to finish ninth. After all the problems I’ve had it’s a very good result. Erwin Mombaerts and I had to get on the same wavelength. I enjoyed myself a lot, especially in the military camp. I’m delighted to have scored points in the World Rally Championship. I’d like to thank the whole team for the work they’ve done to achieve this result.”

Source: NextgenAuto

Räikkönen almost got Hirvonen's grade from an Italian newspaper

Italian Auto Sprint -magazine's rally section goes through happenings in this year's WRC-serie giving grades to all drivers in Top 10.

Sebastien Loeb has won half of this season's rallies. He gets the grade 9,5.

– Once again the ruler of the season, Auto Sprint says.

Sebastien Ogier has won two rallies. His grade is 8,5.

– Successor who shows development when it comes to competitiveness.

Jari-Matti Latvala got the 3rd highest grade 8.

– Started with 3rd positions, almost won in Jordan and had a brilliant pace in Argentina. Has without doubt developed a lot and it will be exciting to see how fast he goes on tarmac.

Mikko Hirvonen is 2nd but the paper gives him only 7,5.

– Great start but hasn't found the way to win after Sweden. The only one who has stayed after Loeb when it comes to continuance of results but not because of his pace.

Auto Sprint praises Kimi Räikkönen's development and gives him the grade 7.

– He threw himself in it all to be the center of attention and he deserves positive gratification for his season so far. He has always scored points and proved that he understands how the DS3 WRC should be driven. We are expecting good results again starting from Greece.

Petter Solberg and Mads Östberg also got the grade 7.

The others had to settle for grades 4-6,5.

Turun Sanomat, Rooma

PERTTI LEPISTÖ

Courtesy: Nicole

TOP 10: All the offs in Räikkönen's rally career

Kimi Räikkönen's still relatively new rally career holds more offs than enough and everything hasn't still gone completely in the tube on rally paths. During his first WRC-season Räikkönen trashed his Citroën many times. MTV3 ranked Räikkönen's stupidities on the rally path

10) The 2010 Arctic Lapland Rally was Räikkönen's first time with Citroen C4 WRC car and he drove out already during the 2nd SS. Because of that he was left behind the lead about half an hour and the race was there. He managed however to drive to the finish line.

9) In 2009 Räikkönen's journey in Italian della Marca tarmac rally ended prematurely.

Snowbanks were dusting in the off in Swedish Rally.

8) The opening rally in Sweden didn't start in very positive spirits when it came to Räikkönen when he crashed with another car during recce. He broke the hood in the crash and the snowbanks were tested later in the race. Raikkonen was able to run the race until the end and was 30th.

Kimi Raikkonen drove out in Rally Japan's shakedown.

7) The off in Japan Rally was not the wildest of the season but it ended Räikkönen's race. The gas pedal is a bit too delicate again and the Citroen is finally found quite deep in the forest.

Kimi Raikkonen in his thoughts in Finland Rally 2010

6) If the off in 2009 Jyväskylä was quite wild, the same can't be said about 2010. Once again he has a little too much speed and goes wide. The Citroen took a hit but Räikkönen was able to continue finishing 25th.

Raikkonen was forced to retire in France.

5) The foot on the pedal was once again a little bit too hasty in the French Rally and there was too much speed. The Citroen didn't turn, it just went in a went into a slight curve and straight to the forest and also stayed there.

Räikkönen's Citroen is dug up from the forest in Bulgaria.

4) Räikkönen was in a good pace in Bulgaria tarmac rally Raikkonen but once again the car was found from the woods.
Fortunately the Citroen was equipped with a roll cage because they rolled handsomely through the roof.

Kimi Raikkonen put his Citroën on its roof in Spain.

3) The errors in Rally Spain were costly and Räikkönen got to learn that the hard way. Cutting a little too early and the Citroën lands brilliantly on its roof.

Kimi Raikkonen rolled a few volts with his Citroën in Mexico.

2) Rally Mexico showed how dangerous it was also when it came to Räikkönen when he hit his Citroen on a stone already at the first SS. The actual retirement took place in SS7 when Räikkönen's Citroen rolled a few times.

Räikkönen's first WRC-rally ended wildly when he drove off.

1) One can't say that Kimi's first rally (2009 Jyväskylä) wen't completely into the tube because his race ended through a couple of volts on the side of the road.

Source: MTV3
Courtesy: Nicole