Last Thursday, the race in Monte Carlo started the 2008 season in Rally WRC. The first short day rally consisted of two night special stages. On the first of them, St-Jean-en-Royans length 28.12 km, the best time of the pilot showed Citroen factory team Dani Sordo. In the second special stage length 17.58 km has quickly become the current world champion Sebastien Loeb, ahead of team-mate Sordo, who came second, at 16.5 sec. On the first day of Loeb went into the lead. According to experts, the 2008 season will be accompanied by the complete hegemony of the factory team Citroen Total World Rally Team. At least, there is little doubt in the superiority of four-time world champion Sebastien Loeb. Back in December, concluded by a WRC Rally of double world champion Marcus Gronholm said: "Mikko Hirvonen is sure to become a world champion team in Ford, but not in 2008. Seb is now unstoppable. " In addition, the second pilot of Dani Sordo, chalked up a dozen podium finishes, has already gained enough experience to fight for third place in the championship, where, according to forecasts, its main competitors will Jari-Matti Latvala and Petter Solberg. The only team that can impose at least some combat Citroen in 2008, is the BP Ford. However, the alternation of generations (now a BP Ford out with two young Finn - Mikko Hirvonen and Jari-Matti Latvala) can not make itself felt. If the young Latvala will be able to beat his main rival Dani Sordo, then BP Ford has a chance to win the next command. The remaining teams are in the stage of solving their own problems and do not put yourself tasks such as winning a world title. In the past year, with the exception of Citroen and Ford, all the other stables have been able to win only 6 podiums. The most depressing situation of the team Subaru World Rally Team (only two podiums in 2007), which has always fought only for the highest places. But last season, this struggle has been reduced to a confrontation with his own technique, which virtually every race faltering. At the beginning of the season Petter Solberg and Christopher Atkinson will be performing at the upgraded Subaru Impreza WRC 2007. But how will things were with the new Impreza WRC 2008 - the big question. If, together with a new test driver Mark Martin team will produce a stable competitive car, then gradually the situation might change for the better. Another important factor is the change of the bus rules. Most riders and team officials expressed their concerns about the new rules, which in their opinion, could seriously complicate the life of teams. We remind you that this season in the WRC Rally prohibited from using antiprokolny mousse. Champion in 2003 and leader of the factory team Subaru Petter Solberg said: "Without the mousse, we will go much more cautious than before, since any puncture can cause descent in the race. I think in the Monte Carlo wins the one who adapts quickly and be able to maximize the potential of their tires on the treacherous snow-covered highway. " Monte Carlo Rally. Results of the first day: 1. Sebastien Loeb (Citroen C4 WRC) 23:38,4 2. Dani Sordo (Citroen C4 WRC) +12,7 3. Mikko Hirvonen (Ford Focus RS WRC07) +44,0 4. Chris Atkinson (Subaru Impreza WRC 2007) 58.6 5. Francois Duval (Ford Focus RS WRC07) +1:13,5 6. Petter Solberg (Subaru Impreza WRC 2007) +1:14,5 7. Gianluigi Galli (Ford Focus RS WRC07) +1:26,1 8. Toni Gardemeister (Suzuki SX4 WRC) +1:53,1
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