Bottom post of the previous page:
kals wrote:This type of arguement has been going on for many years and will never go away. My opinion is that both disciplines require such differing driving styles that you cannot say one is harder than the other or that one driver from either racing or rallying is more talented than another. You can try to equalise things by sticking them in matching cars at the ROC, but the race will still effectively be more favourable to one driver than the other.
So Loeb is making a habit of crashing out of late.... must be feeling the pressure....... However, a report prepared by the FIA technical delegate afterwards confirmed the Citroen DS3 WRC Hirvonen took to victory was using a clutch that did not comply with the car’s homologation documentation.”
Xavier Mestelan-Pinon, Citroen Racing technical director and deputy team principal, said: “The scrutineers identified differences between the homologation sheet and two components: the clutch and the turbocharger. The Citroen DS3 WRCs clutch mechanisms are homologated with lightening holes. Our supplier recently provided us with a batch of parts that were not perforated and one of them was fitted to the No.2 DS3 WRC [of Hirvonen]. These parts don’t provide any gain in terms of performance, as they are heavier than those, which are homologated.
He continued: “Regarding the turbocharger, which is a standard part on all World Rally Cars, the wheel turbine dimension exceed the maximum authorised. This difference comes from dilatation, as the wheel is subject to extreme temperature and rpm factors.”
Matton, the Citroen team principal, added: “We had no intention whatsoever to cheat and the decision appears out of proportion. Given the fact that the reported differences didn’t bring us any advantage, we’ve decided to appeal. At the moment, most of all I feel sorry for Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen, who produced a superb performance on a particularly difficult rally. They really deserved their first win with us. All I can do, on behalf of the entire team, is offer my sincere apologies for this situation. I hope that Mikko and Jarmo will have the chance to top the podium again very soon. ”
