Turkey 2006

SEBASTIEN LOEB BROKE HIS ARM WHILST TRAINING ON HIS MOUNTAIN BIKE SHORTLY AFTER THE LAST ROUND IN CYPRUS AND HIS CAR WAS USED HERE BY COLIN MCRAE IN AN ATTEMPT TO FEND OFF FORD IN THE CONSTRUCTORS' CHAMPIONSHIP. FOR TWO REASONS IT IS AS WELL FOR SEBASTIEN THAT HE HAS SUCH A BIG LEAD IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP - 35 POINTS BEFORE TURKEY WITH ONLY 4 ROUNDS LEFT. FIRSTLY, MARCUS GRONHOLM REALLY NEEDS TO WIN ALL 4 RALLIES TO BE CERTAIN OF SNATCHING THE TITLE - PRESSURE OF A DIFFERENT SORT TO THE USUAL - AND, SECONDLY, SEBASTIEN COULDN'T HAVE WON HERE IN TURKEY EVEN IF HE HAD BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE ALTERNATOR ON HIS CAR FAILED ON THE PENULTIMATE STAGE. COLIN WAS LYING 6TH AT THE TIME AND WOULD HAVE BEEN HIGHER BUT FOR THE TEAM'S POOR TYRE CHOICE EARLIER IN THE RALLY. FORD TOOK A 1-2 FINISH WITH MARCUS 1ST AND MIKKO HIRVONEN 2ND WITH A DELIGHTED HENNING SOLBERG ACHIEVING HIS VERY FIRST WRC PODIUM. HIS YOUNGER BROTHER, PETTER, HAD BEEN CHALLENGING MARCUS IN A MUCH-IMPROVED SUBARU UNTIL A ROCK PUT PAID TO HIS CHANCES ON DAY 2. HENNING NOW HAS MORE POINTS THAN PETTER!

Rally Results posted by
David Little
16th October 2006

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