Stepan Vojtech leads the rest of the pack; Jereb, Petrovic and Kanchev dropped out already
The first day of the OMV Rally Waldviertel ended with a triple lead by the OMV Teams. At the top Manfred Stohl and Beppo Harrach (both OMV CNG Rally Team) fought a duel for seconds well worth seeing. Stepan Vojtech is already somewhat behind. The Czech carries the colours of the OMV BIXXOL Rally Teams. His teammate Claudiu David (Rum) is close to entering the top-10.
Gas makes the music
One had to reckon with Manfred Stohl at the OMV Rally Waldviertel even though the 35-year-old Viennese steers the CNG Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX for the first time. But Beppo Harrach, winner of the Ostarrichi-Rallye three weeks ago, makes life really difficult for his team boss. After the first day the OMV gas-duo lies only 4,3 seconds apart. Stohl: “That is going to be a very tough fight. I may have the WRC-experience but Beppo has steered the CNG Mitsubishi for almost two seasons already. And he plays very well on this advantage. ” The performance of the gas-driven cars is more than impressive according to Beppo Harrach: “We’ve already been doing very well last year in the Waldviertel. But this kind of predominance surprises even me. The duel with Manfred gives me wings. ”
Speedy Vojtech
OMV BIXXOL Rally Team-driver Stepan Vojtech lies in secure third place after five special stages. The Czech benefits by his Waldviertel-experience. He already finished twice in second place on the podium here. Vojtech: “The conditions were extremely difficult today. I’m very glad that we came through without problems. It is only natural that each OMV driver wants to give his best at the rally of his main sponsor. I think I did very well so far. “
With Claudiu David a further OMV BIXXOL-driver is about to move up into the top-10. The Romanian who had shown his talent at the WRC-run in Japan in October currently lies in eleventh place, only 3,2 seconds behind tenth place. David: “I think we are getting into it better and better and will be able to move up one or more places on Saturday. ”
Igor Vlasaty of the OMV Rally Team Slovakia in the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX lies in 20th place. The Slovak reached 13-best overall time on the super special.
Three retirements already
Andrej Jereb (OMV BIXXOL Rally Team), Vladan Petrovic (OMV Rally Team Serbia) and Vilhelm Kanchev (OMV Rally Team Bulgaria) were less lucky. Slovenian Jereb, who has already competed three times in the WRC this year, had to park his Peugeot 207 S2000 already on the second special stage due to engine failure. Kanchev (Peugeot 206 S1600) was stopped by a technical defect prior to SS 2. Vladan Petrovic (Subaru Impreza STI) slipped off the road on SS 3 and wasn’t able to get out of the ditch. Thus the OMV Rally Waldviertel was over for him.
Intermediate standings after five of 17 special stages*
*) Special stage 4 was cancelled
01. Manfred Stohl/Ilka Minor (A) CNG Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 30:40,2 min.
02. Beppo Harrach/Andreas Schindlbacher (A) CNG Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI +4,3 sec.
03. Stepan Vojtech/Michal Ernst (CZ) Mitsubshi Lancer Evo IX +31,8 sec.
04. Hermann Gassner/Karin Tannhäuser (Ger) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +49,2 sec.
05. Michal Kosciuszko/Maciek Szczepaniak (Pol) Fiat Grande Punto S2000 +56,5 sec.
06. Andreas Waldherr/Richard Jeitler (A) VW Polo S2000 +1:05,8 min.
07. Willi Stengg/Jürgen Klinger (A) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +1:26,5 min.
08. Peter Gavlak/Milos Hulka (Sk/CZ) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +1:40,4 min.
09. Sepp Haider/Manfred Hiemer (A/Ger) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI +1:52,4 min.
10. Toto Wolff/Gerald Pöschl (A) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII, Gr. -A +1:56,6 min.
11. Claudiu David/Mihaela Beldie (RO) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +1:59,8 min.
…/…
20. Igor Vlasaty/Zdenek Hruza (Slk) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +3:39,3 min.
SS-best-times: Stohl 2, Harrach 1 (both CNG Mitsubishi), Kosciuszko 1
The second day of the OMV Rally Waldviertel will commence on Saturday at 8.00 in the service park at the Nordring. Twelve special stages with a length of 110,08 kilometres are scheduled. The super special at the Nordring (start 17.12) will be the conclusion. The presentation ceremony will take place at 19.00 on the Hauptplatz (town square) in Gars am Kamp.
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