..:: RALLY REPORT FINLAND "OASIS RALLYSPORT" ::..
Our driver Lutz Müller (Race Net Name: Walter Röhrl) finished his Finland Rally yesterday. Here's the report of his journey through the finish woods...
SS1: In his new livery - to celebrate Walter Röhrl's 70th birtday earlier this month - the Lancia Delta saw a rainy morning at Oksala.
Lutz had a nervous start, "safety first" was his motto as he did not want to loose all motivation caused by a fatal mistake. He had a clean run through the rain and P2 in 4WD- class (For the moment).
SS2: Another clean run at Jyrkysjärvi without any mistakes, despite the loss of rhythmn at about halfway. Still 2nd in class behind "Crazyhorse" Andy Jobin.
SS3: The first long stage held at Hämelahti - and the sun came out at Finland.The first half of Hämelahti was Jyrkysjärvi (SS2) so Lutz started very confident into this...much to confident...
That moment when your rear tyre explodes bit hitting the stones...
He went far to right over a crest and while flying around he already realised that the landing would be everything but comfortable...and some flips & rollovers werde added to the exploded tyre. Goodbye you lovely motivation... Mentally Finland was done at this point for him
The car got back to the service at P9 in class with a loss of about 2 minutes.
The team thought about what to do: "All or nothing - DNF or podium
" or simply go on concentrated and safe in case other competitors might also make such mistakes or get a puncture. We decided to choose option 2
SS4 and SS5 saw a clean run by Lutz who got back into the rhythmn of the woods in a heavy deformated Lancia Delta...
SS6: A long stage at night with a clear sky and all the stars looking down at us... What a scene...
The night went well and Lutz got the car safe back to the service at the end of Day 1 - Good night!
SS7: Day 2 started as day 1 with rain and the car felt somehow slow - maybe caused by the warning lamps for motor and radiator. With a slower car you make less mistakes than with a faster car - so did Lutz and set a clean start into day 2
SS8: Kailajärvi in the rain - clean & solid run by Lutz.
SS9: One to forget
Lutz had 2 spins and needed help by the spectators to get the car back on the wheels again... Hello motivation...where are you???
SS10: Pitkäjärvi in the sun and against all fears of Co-Driver C. Geistdörfer he didn't have to change a tyre during this 7:20min run as Lutz made no mistakes
Service Park reached...
SS11: At Paskuri the car felt even slower but still good to handle...clean run!
SS12: Kailajärvi at night and just 1s slower than in the rain this morning, nice one!
SS13: Last long stage at Finland and last stage at night - and it was great fun. Lutz dived completely into the rhythmn of the jumps and crests...slow (car) but constant
SS14: Day 3 saw 4 short stages on the schedule, starting at Iso Oksjärvi - and no rain
The car still damaged quite heavily Lutz added a deformated door as he hit the finish marks after a clean run
SS15 and SS16 were free of mistakes and brought a lot of fun...
SS17: Final stage at Finland - Naarajärvi. Lutz had a spin in the last sector when hitting an obstacle, aftterwards the car made a strange sound...a bit like a whistle, but neither Lutz or Co-Driver Christian were able to recognize the song behind the melody
Finished at last
Hope you enjoyed my little report and wishing all the best to those who are about to come...