Friday, 26th September
23:30 hrs
1 Holowczyz A mistake in the
pace notes caused the driver to spin on SS3. Driver says: "This
rally is very hard and we must be careful." Only routine
service carried out at the Nicosia park.
2 Kirkos Driver reported a
unspecified engine problem and had new injectors fitted in the
hope of curing it. The anti-lag system was not working so they
are changing the computer.
3 Cleanthous Shock absorbers
adjusted at service park; otherwise car ok. Driver says they lost
four minutes on SS1 when the engine cut completely. Asked about
plans for tomorrow, driver said: "We are going to use our
heads. That's how we've won two Cyprus Championships.
4 Gardemeister A suspected
problem with the engine management system causing the throttle
to stay open even when the driver lifts his foot (this caused
him to spin twice in SS3). At start of SS3 driver complained of
a badly slipping clutch.
5 Tsouloftas Report of brake
fluid leak (see Rally News 2) was incorrect. Halfway through SS3
driver thought he had a flat front right tyre but it turned out
to be a broken ball joint, damaged, he thinks, when he cut into
a corner. Ball joint replaced at the service park.
6 Baldykov The anti-lag system
on this car is very difficult - it's aggressive and not really
suitable to this type of stage. Tomorrow the driver's going all
out.
8 Stolfa Lost second gear
on SS2 and cracked gearbox on the same stage (see Rally News No
2). Gearbox replaced at service park. This car is using the gearbox
from the Octavia, Skoda's new rally car.
10 Mavropoulos Driver says
car over-revs in second gear and does not pull well in third,
otherwise it's perfect.
11 Nasrallah Driver says the
car's handling should be ok now (see Rally News 1).
19 Komodromos Retired in SS1.
Driver said: "The fuel pump packed up at 6 o'clock tonight,
on the way to the start. We changed it and then the new one gave
out in the first stage. I've never gone out of a rally so early
before."
21 Paphitis Retired in SS1.
Reason not known.
25 Reininger "This rally
is very, very, very hard."
31 Zenonos Had to have a bolt
on the rear cross-member welded at the service park.