A learning experience at Rally de France-Tour de Corse

The Pirelli-equipped Subaru Impreza WRC2004 of Petter Solberg has ended the Rally de France-Tour de Corse (round 14 of the World Rally Championship) in fifth place after three difficult and unpredictable days. His team mate Mikko Hirvonen finishes the rally in 10th overall. Both drivers used Pirellis P Zero RX tyres (for dry to damp asphalt) on the final leg, where Solberg set one fastest time. This classic asphalt event was characterised by extremely variable weather conditions which made finding the right set-up and tyre choice extremely difficult. Discovering the correct compromise was a continual gamble, which did not help Solberg feel at ease on the demanding Corsican stages. On the final leg, having found the correct balance between car set-up and tyres, Solberg set a fastest time to underline the stunning form which gave him three consecutive victories in Japan, Great Britain and Sardinia, and also a win in Corsica one year ago. This time the rally was won by Markko Martin's Ford, in front of the two Citroens of Sebastien Loeb and Carlos Sainz. Loeb therefore succeeded Solberg as drivers' World Champion, while Citroen took the manufacturers' championship. Fiorenzo Brivio, Pirelli's rally manager, commented: "Weather conditions made it difficult for ourselves and Subaru to establish the right match between car set-up and tyres. The last leg, where Petter set a fastest time, proves however that we have been able to capitalise upon the experience gained over the preceding two days, so we head to the Catalunya Rally in two weeks' time feeling optimistic." Petter Solberg said: "I'm happy to have set a fastest time this morning: it means that when everything is going well we are capable of fighting at the front. Next up is the asphalt of Catalunya: another tough challenge." RALLY DE FRANCE-TOUR DE CORSE - Final Classification 1 Martin-Park Ford Focus WRC 4h11m51.4s 2 Loeb-Elena Citroen Xsara WRC +2m02.2 3 Sainz-Marti Citroen Xsara WRC +2m55.3 4 Gronholm-Rautiainen Peugeot 307 WRC +3m29.1 5 Solberg-Mills Subaru Impreza WRC +5m06.3 6 Sarrazin-Pivato Subaru Impreza WRC +7m09.1 7 Loix-Smeets Peugeot 307 WRC +8m21.2 8 Schwarz-Hiemer Skoda Fabia WRC +9m08.3 9 Gardemeister-Lukander Skoda Fabia WRC +7m48.1 10 Hirvonen-Lehtinen Subaru Impreza WRC +11m58.2 Next Rally: Catalunya Rally, 29-31 October Drivers Championship: 1 Loeb 108; 2 Solberg 78; 3 Martin 69; 4 Sainz 67; 5 Gronholm 54; 6 Duval 47; 7 Hirvonen 23; 8 Rovanpera 20; 9 Tuohino 16; 10 Loix 9; 11 Carlsson & Panizzi 6; 13 Navarra 5 Constructors Championship: 1 Citroen 178; 2 Ford 127; 3 Subaru 108; 4 Peugeot 85; 5 Mitsubishi 17