Monte Carlo 2006 Rally: Subaru / PCWRC - Leg 1
The opening day of the 2006 Production Car World Rally Championship started with something of an anti-climax for the PCWRC runners as none of the category`s drivers were given the chance to set competitive times in any of the morning`s three stages. On the opening two tests, drivers were given nominal times as nearly the entire field was unable to get to the stages in time due to snarled traffic. The third test of the day was then cancelled due to the earlier delays.
As the day`s running comprised two passes through the same trio of tests, crews had the chance to run over the same stages after the Lunchtime Service.

With only two PCWRC-contesting Subaru Impreza entrants on this event, losing Jari Matti Latvala before the very first stage (SS4) to a fuel problem was a bitter disappointment. The Finn will be able to continue tomorrow under SupeRally regulations; though will be starting some fifteen minutes in arrears of his rivals.

Meanwhile, Qatari driver Nasser Al Attiyah had a generally promising day, running fourth after SS4 (21.6 seconds behind the leader), and finishing the day in third.

Nasser Al Attiyah
“I really couldn`t push today. In the recce we only get one pass here and now the conditions are completely different. When we did the notes it was in snow, and now it`s completely changed – one corner it`s wet, the next dry, and the following one it`s covered in ice. It`s really a guessing game, and at times I was just a passenger in the car. I am happy with this pace we`re maintaining today, and with the overall performance of the car – though I`m not pushing 100% because of the conditions. We`ll be focusing on trying to finish the rally as getting points is very important.”

It should be noted that PCWRC drivers don`t have the benefit of gravel crews (which the WRC drivers enjoy); and with conditions notoriously changeable here in Monaco, it is something of a disadvantage. They haven`t had the safety crews out in the morning passing up-to-the-minute information back to them so the drivers don`t know where the ice and snow and the mud lies. This alone makes things rather more difficult for the Group N competitors.

As a result, the PCWRC crews had to go out with a more conservative attitude on this opening day of the rally - it`s a case of pushing while one can, while remaining very, very cautious throughout the leg.

The first competitive stage of the day, SS4, was the 22.22km St Sauvuer Sur Tinee – Beuil 2 test. Bulgarian driver Jason Popov led the PCWRC group, with Briton David Higgins 6.2 seconds behind. Fumio Nutahara slotted into third, with Nasser Al Attiyah just 1.6 seconds back. Jari Matti Latvala, having already run into trouble, brought up the rear of the six Group N competitors, five minutes off Popov`s time.

Going into SS5, the 13.60-km Guillaumes – Valberg 2 stage, Al Attiyah was ahead of Nutahara by 1.6 seconds, though came out of the test exactly the same amount adrift. On the following stage, SS6 (the 23.21-km Pierlas – Ilonse 2 test) the Qatari driver lost nearly 40 seconds to his Japanese rival, Nutahara putting in a performance that moved him from fourth to the top of the PCWRC group. Between this pair lies current Bulgarian rally champion Jason Popov, just 5.3 seconds ahead of Nasser.

George Donaldson, STI Group N Project General Manager
“It`s been an unexpected start to the Monte Carlo rally today, and to the PCWRC season. While it is most unfortunate for Jari Matti Latvala to have had the fuel problems he did – even before his rally began, his team have confirmed he`ll be back on the stages tomorrow so we`ll see how he goes on leg two. It is after all the Monte – and anything can happen between now and Sunday afternoon.

“Despite the very difficult conditions today, Nasser Al Attiyah has done a remarkable job, moving from fourth up into third over the course of those three stages. He`s starting to get comfortable with the stages - though he`s had a tough afternoon. Nasser is looking forward to getting some clear stages tomorrow where he can explore the dynamics of the new car, and really get closer to its limits.

“There have been no dramas reported with the car, the new `06 Impreza. We`re very pleased with how it has run today, and are eager to see how it will perform throughout the rest of the rally.”

Tags: subaru, impreza, group-n, monte-carlo, sti,