The OMV BIXXOL Rally Team with Bulgarian brothers Yassen and Co-driver Dillyan Popov in the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX shortly quarreled with fate on the first day of the “Rally Ireland” when a flat tyre threw them back on SS 6. But sixth-best overall time in the P-Car FIA World Rally Championship on special stage eight brought the OMV pair back up to 12th intermediate place and keeps their hope to score points alive. The Czech OMV BIXXOL Rally Team Stepan Vojetch/Michal Ernst also gave an excellent performance and lies in place 8 prior to the second day.
Sneaky tyre-god
The OMV BIXXOL Rally Teams already knew in advance that the conditions at the “Rally Ireland” would be anything but easy. But in the beginning of day one Bulgarian Brothers Yassen and co-driver Dillyan Popov had little problems with the rain and the slippery roads on the green isle. Until the tyre-god stroke on special stage six and caused a flat tyre on the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX. But the OMV duo didn’t give up and reconquered place by place. “You’re powerless against a tyre damage. But, given these conditions, this can happen to anybody else, as well, tomorrow. That is why points are still possible. Especially since sixth-best time on SS 8 showed us that we are competitive“, said an anything but crestfallen Yassen Popov. After day one the Bulgarian OMV duo lies in 12th intermediate place in the P-Car FIA World Rally Championship.
The first day of the Rally Ireland went by without grave problems for the OMV BIXXOL Rally Team CZ with Stepan Vojtech and co Michal Ernst (also Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX). Following a cautious beginning, due to the adverse conditions, they finished leg one in excellent eighth intermediate place and thus within scoring ranks. A result that is to be defended on Saturday in any case.
Intermediate standings after 10 of 20 special stages, P-Car WRC
01. Mark Higgins/Scott Martin (GB) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 1:41:58,9 hrs.
02. Armindo Araujo/Miguel Ramalho (P) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +55,7 sec.
03. Gabriel Pozzo/Daniel Stillo (RA) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +1:07,5 min.
…/…
08. Stepan Vojtech/Michal Ernst (CZ) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +4:49,1 min.
12. Yassen Popov/Dillyan Popov (BUL) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +8:23,2 min.
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