Mexico : OMV CEE - Leg 1Stepan Vojtech and Michal Ernst didn`t set their expectations too high for the Corona Rally Mexico. On the one hand it is their first WRC run on gravel and on the other hand the complete elite of the Production Car WRC is competing. Thus their beginning was rather cautious.
But the OMV duo already put their foot firmly down during the second three special stages of day one and they currently lie in excellent sixth place in the PCWRC after the first leg. Stepan Vojtech proves to be a fast learner who is gaining speed by the kilometre.
An incredible experience
Stepan Vojtech learned very fast how to tackle his first WRC-run on gravel – cautious, that is. This resulted in the OMV CEE World Rally Team losing some time on the first three special stages but was made up by gathering valuable experience on gravel. A tactic that already payed off during the afternoon of day one. Vojtech was able to increase his speed with each kilometre and eventually finished leg one in excellent sixth place in the FIA Production Car WRC-ranking. Vojtech: “It was extremely important to find our rhythm at first. If you`ve never competed on gravel before it`s tough work to find each seperate brake point, for instance. But it is an incredible experience to compete here – and a lot of fun, too.”
Learning aptitude pays off
“He is a real fast learner. When asked which tyres he`d like to have Stepan answered at first: ,Black, circular, made of rubber and by BF Goodrich`. In the meantime he already knows the advantage of choosing the right tyres,” smiles OMV CEE WRT Team Manager Günther Aschacher. Ambition has set in, as well. On SS 5 Vojtech was rather furious when Polish driver Leszek Kuzaj reentered the course right in front of him after having slipped off the road. Vojtech: “We lost over a minute in his wake. That wouldn`t have been necessary. But we`re in sixth place and anything is still possible.” The Czech OMV driver is, for instance, only 15,9 seconds behind fourth place.
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