Loix struggles, Solberg out

Freddy Loix and Petter Solberg have encountered problems on the first of Leg Three's stages. The 117.46km Oltepesi section was delayed due to low cloud which prevented safety helicopters from flying (see separate story) after Tommi Makinen and Harri Rovenpera had begun the test

Jul 22, 2001, 6:32 AM

But after officials decreed that it was safe to re-start the rally, Belgian Loix hit trouble almost straight away. With just 20km of the section behind him, the turbo boost on his Mitsubishi Carisma failed. He is currently only able to drive at 60kph, with over 90km of the test to go. It looks like being a long day for the Mitsubishi driver, currently lying in seventh overall.

Petter Solberg was also soon in trouble on Oltepesi, with a broken wheel bearing that left the front right wheel flapping before it finally came off the car with 50kms to go.

The Norwegian tried to make repairs, with at one point co-driver Phil Mills sitting on the boot to balance the front of the car. But with more than 55kms to service, it was too far to continue and the plug was pulled on their Safari efforts.

Section 11 has been cancelled to allow the competitors to be regrouped in time to contest Section 12 at its scheduled start time of 0847 (BST).