The OMV BIXXOL Rally Team CZ with Stepan Vojtech and Michal Ernst has finished the first day of the “Corona Rally Mexico†in eighth place of the FIA Production Car World Rally Championship. The Czech OMV duo reached fourth-best time on special stage 5. Balasz Benik and Laszlo Bunkoczi of the OMV BIXXOL Rally Team were less fortunate. Immediately after the service a turbo damage ended their fight for scoring points. They dropped far behind and had to be content with eleventh intermediate place.
Fast on the long special stages
Stepan Vojtech’s (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX) Mexico experience came into play in the afternoon of day two. On the longest special stage of the day (SS 5) the Czech of the OMV BIXXOL Rally Team CZ reached fourth-best overall time in the PCar-WRC. Thus he was able to secure eighth place in the overall ranking. The lead on Cypriot Pavlides adds up to almost six minutes. Vojtech: “Basically everything goes smoothly except for problems with the petrol feed pipe. I hope that we will be able to solve these until Saturday. If so, points are definitely possible. “
Turbo damage stops race to catch up
Bad luck for Balasz Benik. The Hungarian of the OMV BIXXOL World Rally Team already had to bury his dream of catching up a few kilometres into the fifth special stage. Suddenly the turbo malfunctioned and the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX could only be driven in low gear. Therefore the Hungarian OMV duo Benik/Bunkoczi dropped back from ninth to eleventh PCar-WRC intermediate place. Benik: “That was most unfortunate. We had planned to ride an attack. But with a damaged turbo all you can hope for is to reach the finish of the leg. In such a case achieving good times is illusionary. Now we will try to give our best tomorrow. Then we will see how far we will be able to improve the result. “
Intermediate standings after three of 20 special stages, PCar-WRC
01. Mark Higgins/Scott Martin (GB/Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX) 1:32:18,0 hrs.
02. Mirco Baldacci/Giovanni Agnese (RSM) Subaru Impreza +10,0 sec.
03. Toshi Arai/Tony Sircombe (Jap) Subaru Impreza + 1:28,3 min.
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08. Stepan Vjtech/Michal Ernst (CZ) Mitsubishi/OMV BIXXOL Rally Team CZ +3:12,8 min.
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11. Balasz Benik/Laszlo Bunkoczi (H) Mitsubishi/OMV BIXXOL Rally Team +13:43,3 min.
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