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New tests for Ford
This past week end the Ford test team
did some more tests in Sardinia, under
the supervision of the engineer Carl
Goodman. Roman Kresta tested for two
days at Tergu the BF Goodrich Tyres in
order to prepare for Rally Acropolis,
then on the gravel roads of Gallura in
the North part of Sardinia, Markus
Gronholm and Mikko Hirvonen set up the
Focus WRC 2006 for the coming Rally
d’Italia Sardegna.
“We worked on the adjustment of
suspensions, shock absorbers,
differentials and we tested the tyres. –
said Mikko Hirvonen at the end of the
testing he did at La Prugnola and Monte
Moro – We found the basic set up of the
car for Rally d’Italia Sardegna. We
adapted the car to the Sardinian dirt
roads, chosing roads as similar as
possible to the ones we are going to
find during the race. I did well here
last year, I was third at the end of leg
one. The car is fine on gravel and I
hope I’ll do well this year too”.
Also Markus Gronholm is satisfied with
the tests he carried out with the Focus
at Aggius and Canu. “The car is fine –
said the Finnish driver – and in these
days we made a few changes in the
mapping of the engine and in the
suspensions regulation. I hope I’ll have
at last a race without problems”.
Question: With what kind of spirit you
are facing this race?
Answer: “I feel well and since I didn’t
get points in Argentina I feel obliged
to win here in Sardegna. I have to win,
It’s unbelievable that Loeb has no
problems and things have been turning
bad for us in the last four races”.
Q.: Did you plan any tactics?
A.: “Just one, attack from the beginning,
from the very fist kilometre as everyone
does always. It’s going to be essential
that the car would not have problems, I
do not make mistakes, like last year at
Mamone and be quick in the narrow stages.
All this could be not enough if Loeb’s
car keep going that well, his car goes
incredibly well”.
Q.: The “Sisu”, the strong spirit of the
Finnish people, could help you in
achieving the good results you expect in
the WRC?
A.: “The “Sisu” will be with me all the
time, but we have to do our best with
the Ford team in order to fight against
Loeb and Citroen. It could be the right
year for Ford and myself. I count also
on Mikko Hirvonen help. We can do it”.
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