Stohl laments tyre problems
OMV Peugeot runner Manfred Stohl has blamed tyre problems as the reason he has been off the pace in the Rallye de France so far
Manufacturer 2 runner Stohl, currently fourth in the drivers' standings, is currently tenth after a disappointing opening two stages in Corsica.
Stohl and co-driver Ilka Minor had to change one of their tyres after SS1, because the anti-deflation mouse had failed in one of their BF Goodrich tyres.
"We just can't get enough grip which makes the car rather fidgety," Stohl said. "This didn't matter too much on the first special stage since it consists of many turns and isn't that fast.
"But the second stage resembles a highway, though. That is where you need that kind of grip that we unfortunately miss.
"Only [Sebastien] Loeb and [Marcus] Gronholm are in a league of their own. The upside was that we were able to hold our own with the top drivers on asphalt and we're not too far behind third place."
Stohl is the only OMV Peugeot runner in Corsica. The team have only brought one car because the Tour de Course isn't one of teammate Henning Solberg's specified events.
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