55. Azores Rallye 2021
16. 9. – 18. 9. 2021, Ponta Delgada • Grupo Desportivo Comercial • gravel 201.74 km • total distance including road sections - 645.14 km • Other years
Azores championship only counts leg 1
Info
SS13
"I'm so happy to be here, this stage is fantastic, it is the best experience of my life."
"I have to thank to my co-driver for his experience."
"Fantastic, great stage. The car was good, but very difficult rally."
"We had a spin and lost some time. But this stage is great, we enjoyed it."
"It was a difficult rally for us, not 100% good, but we are really happy with the podium."
"Points are the most important for the championship, thanks for the team, they did great job. For sure I will never forget this rally. We had a lot of problems, but we enjoyed it."
"Very very special rally. I'm really happy for my team, they are amazing. Fantastic rally."
"Perfect weekend, another race, another victory, thanks to the team for their job and perfect car."
"I'm very happy. It was a difficult rally for me for the first time here with the R5 car, but I liked it."
"I made a stupid mistake, in tight corner I went too inside and clipped a wall."
"We were really happy with the performance this weekend, I think the tyres were working quite well and we did some development. Today we had used tyres, but overall I'm happy."
"It was OK, we had a good gap to Dani so we tried to be clever. All OK. We took not the fastest tyres in the morning, but it paid off now."
"We did our best, really good rally for us. We tried to attack now but the tyres were already done and we hit a wall. But I think it was one ofmy best performances in my career."
"I'm happy because we are here, something unbeliavable, it was the toughest challenge of my career. Lot of experience and news, now we are here, I'm happy and proud of our team."
"Good weekend for us. The confidence with these roads was growing, car and Pirelli tyres were perfect, I'm happy."
"We are happy, good result for our championship. I'm happy to be here, it's amazing, now it's time to celebrate."
"It was so special, this rally was so many times on the TV. It was really nice, amazing stages, I'm really happy. Thanks to the team, the car worked fantastic."
SS11
"It was good, we need to push."
"Better than the first time because I come back to my confidence."
"It's OK, I tried to attack."
"In some places the road is destroyed and we had to brake a lot. But it's better than the first time."
"It was really hard, lot of stones in the middle of the stage. But it's OK, we just need to finish."
"We are going very slowly and carefully to avoid stones. All OK, the car is fine."
"All OK, it's better now."
"All OK, the car is now better, mechanics did very good work, I feel good in the car now."
"I think that in the rear of the car is a problem with damper, but it's possible to go to the next two stages."
"It was fine, lot of stones, but no problem, I enjoyed it."
"I'm lucky, I made a mistake in the beginning on the tarmac, I slide and hit a concrete, but OK, we managed that,"
"It's OK, I already have no new tyres, but I'm happy."
"It was fine, we had a clean stage, no issues. We tried to push, but we also manage the championship."
"Difficult, it's really lot of stones and big rocks. We will try."
"It was crazy because we are on the limit of the 16 tyres for the rally. This loop will be interesting, we did our best."
"OK, the stage is better than in the morning. I'm happy."
"Now it's little buit better, it's clean and there are some lines. We have harder compound now."
"It was much better, now it's much easier. We changed to hard compound and I feel more confident."
SS10
"I'm so happy for this loop. We are really happy for the time being here, now to reach the finish."
"The morning was good, the car is fantastic, I'm happy. Cete Cidades is an incredible stage."
"I lost some confidence after yesterday crash. We had some brake problems in Cete Cidades, but now I'm happy."
"We started bit nervous and made some mistakes, then we didn't push. In the middle of the longest stage I already became quite tired and it wasn't easy. This one was fun."
"We are enjoying a lot, the target is to score maximum points."
"We really need to finish this rally for the championship. We continue to get some points."
"The morning was very complicated, I had two moments in Cete Cidades and damaged the car. But now there is service and last three stages to go."
"Very funny stage, OK."
"The feeling is good, but in Cete Cidades we had a moment and we finished the stage slowly."
"I think quite OK. I did three rallies in last two years and we are still fighting with the fastest drivers."
"I'm happy, we had no new tyres, but for the moment it's quite OK. I tried to push from the beginning, it's still not over."
"The stage is the same like yesterday, I don't understand how organizers can run it, it's against regulations. We lost six seconds yesterday, six seconds now."
"It's been a good morning, we are in the fight, so looking forward for the afternoon. We will give everything."
"We finished the first loop, OK, we are happy. It's not easy."
"It was tough for us, but we are here. The rally is very challenging. This one was fine, but we had lot of rocks from the second car."
"The morning was OK, stages are nice. This one was crazy, still some places with lot of dust."
"It was good, thanks to the organizers because they put the water on the road. It's always very fun to do this stage."
SS9
"We had an issue on one jump, quite heavy landing, but the stage is amazing, really beautiful. We have new wipers now so no problem with rain today."
"We enjoy the stages, it's amazing. We have to think of the championship."
"Really demanding stages, in this one we had a lot of pop-off openings again."
"We had a off on each stage, we drive slowly because we want to finish the rally, it's complicated, we have hard tyres."
"Amazing stage, very very hard."
"We had an off in the last corner of the stage."
"We had to change the tyre before the stage and we got the penalty. In the middle of the stage I had a spin, but it's part of the game, there is a lot of spectators and I enjoy it."
"We have much movement of the car, especially on dry sections, we have too soft tyres. You have to be precise, but OK."
"Very tricky stage for the first time, difficult and slippery, but I enjoyed a bit. We are trying to fight, but Andreas and the others also are very fast, I try my best."
"Amazing stage, quite wet in there, I didn't have much grip, but OK anyway."
"Now we tried to be fast, I think the time is not bad, but in some parts I didn't feel very well, some parts were dry, now it's wet."
"That was very tough, the stage was really slippy, we hit a bank, it was really hard to understand the pacenotes and the surface, we had to calm dawn."
"The car is OK, but I don't have the right feeling with the notes. It's difficult first time here, but OK."
"This stage is amazing, one of the best satges maybe in the world. We tried to push a little bit, we enjoyed the stage."
"Very difficult, lot of corners with mud. But the stage is amazing, very difficult, but I'm excited."
SS7
"We were not lucky on this rally, after few kilometers we hit a concrete with a rear right and damaged the suspension."
"Good stage, I felt good, the traction and grip were OK. Lot of spectators."
"I was not clean on the line, not confident, not 100%. That's how it is."
"Very very slippery, I can't drive, it's sliding all the time."
"Really difficult with the tyre choice for today."
"Difficult, it was more wet than I expected, in the narrow section I had to be more careful. We are happy to be here."
"I think I was too slow, but we are here and it's the most important. The grip is getting better so the guys behind will be much faster."
"We had two punctures, the first one was slow and we changed it, the second one came now in the end. We are going for a beer, we are out of spares, the game is over."
"Very slippy, yesterday we had very good position on the road, today it's mor slippy, but OK, I'm happy."
"It's OK, very slippery and narrow, but OK, I'm happy."
"It was very difficult, very slippery. We don't have traction, dificult to stay with the car on the road."
"To open such stage is very difficult, I had no grip, I was losing a lot of time."
SS6
"Very difficult day, lot of ups and downs. Now we have just to finish the day as we have no brakes anymore. And tomorrow to finish the rally."
"Not grip at all in the previous stage, but this one was pretty good. We will see tomorrow. We made some progress today, it's getting better."
"Good day for us because we are on the finish line of today, one of the toughest days in my career. We can be happy."
"It's been a good day, without the problems with wipers we could be on better position, still we are in the game."
"This is stupid stage, I had to stop three times in the dust."
"Happy, but not here. If you start in the left line, you drive in the dust of the other car, we almost had to stop. It's maybe good for spectators, but you can loose a rally here."
"I'm quite happy with the tyres, they are working very well. We don't know the compound fully, but at the moment we could make the time. It was difficult, I enjoyed it, but it was a difficult day."
"It was a tough day, I don't know what to expect from tomorrow., the weather is changing a lot. Anyway I enjoyed today."
"I'm happy, this stage was very funny, very slippery. For us difficult day, but now the car is OK, we will see tomorrow."
"It was a difficult day, the forecast was crazy for the morning. Our strategy for today changed completely with the starting position, our aim was to bring as many points to the championship."
"We lost a lot here because of the dust, we had to stop as we couldn't see anything. It's shame."
"Fantastic day for us, only a little bit drama with Joan's car, but overall perfect day for us."
"Very happy, amazing, I enjoyed this day with no pressure, just driving. This stage is great for TV and it's fun to drive. Big smile on my face."
"It's OK, the car is fantastic. Not maximum attack because we lost a lot on the start, but I'm happy."
"I enjoyed it a lot, it was demanding day, difficult morning, but the afternoon was nice. This super special was OK, lot of dust, but I liked it."
"This stage is very funny, we look forward for tomorrow."
"It was OK, tough afternoon, but now we enjoyed it with Vilarino."
"Really complicated, I hope tomorrow will be better."
SS5
"The stage was really nice, but to be honest it was one of the toughest days in my life, I lost concentration few times, for now this is our best."
"It was OK, very difficult stage, bit careful on this one. But we had a clean run."
"The car is fantastic, unfortunately the time is lost. Now very slippery, our tyres are finished and we are losing times."
"Very slippery, the rear of the car is still not good, I can't push. The tyres were maybe little bit too hard for this loop."
"This run we had pretty good time, overall it was a good day, we are happy with our performance."
"All good, the rear was moving a lot, maybe because of the tyres, in the end it was dry. I tried my best."
"We have a problem in the rear, there is some weird sound. I have to check it with the team."
"This stage was bitt better, we tried to push little bit, but our goal is to finish our championship, we are focused on this."
"It was OK, difficult to get the rhythm, there are some ruts. But we had issue in the middle of the stage, we lost the wipers for two kilometers, there was some light rain."
"We went flatout in the watersplash. It was more difficult this time, there are some ruts, we have to be clever."
"It's very narrow, lot of slippery places in the first part of the stages, the second part is very good, I love this. Not any moments, all OK."
"Now it's OK, the car is perfect, it's funny, very difficult on the start because it's wet there."
"It was OK, the beginning was very slippery, but I enjoyed it, the last part was totally dry with lot of spectators."
"I did a mistake in last two kilometers, I lost a lot of time. What a stupid mistake, I went in trees."
"Much better, first part of the stage is very slippery and difficult, but this final part is very nice."
"It's bit more slippery than in the first run, but the weather conditions are better. It's really complicated for us, it needs lot of concentration."
SS4
"I enjoyed the stage, I think there was more grip, all OK."
"Very difficult stage, difficult conditions. We have to maintain the lead, let's see what Jean-Baptiste does. But the time is good."
"More grip now, but we have a problem with pop-off, it cost us a lot of time."
"Now it was much better, but we missed the pacenotes for few corners. But we are happy to be here."
"Clean stage, bit easier in the afternoon."
"The pace is there, just some problems in the morning."
"Bit better, but still we are missing the grip on the rear. When the car starts sliding, it's difficult to put it back in the line."
"Really good stage for us, we tried to be clean, and now we have working wipers, so it's good."
"For sure it's better, but you have to be carefull as there is a lot of lose gravel, and to be precise. It's not easy."
"We had a problem with the windscreen before. Now its better, the stages are better than in the morning."
"The stage was little bit better in some places, we tried to keep a good rhythm."
"The stage is quite fast, there are already ruts with more grip. I feel more confident now."
"We are improving in our times, thanks to understaning the car. We had a lot of fog in the first section, now we need to keep our own pace."
"We made setup changes to the rear, the car was moving, now it's better."
"The car is perfect now, but it's the first time now when we drive here in speed."
"It was better, but as expected very slippery with the water on the road, but OK, the car was OK."
"Second time was better, but the stage is very difficult. It's very easy to crash."
"It was a good stage, lot of water on the road, in places we couldn't see because of clouds, but all OK."
"This time no problems, we drive carefully. It's even more slippery than in the first run."
SS3
"We have problems with wipers, not a good stage."
"It was really difficult. At the end of the stage the tyres were gone, but I'm happy we are here, we want to continue like this."
"Really really slippery, we had a lot of fog. You never know here if it's sunny or rain."
"It's my favourite stage, we had two new tyres for this one. We are happy, we are improving."
"Not happy, we were out of the road."
"Difficult, not easy. We have to think, having the championship on my mind."
"I did my last rally two months ago, I'm not under pressure. The other drivers are proffessionals."
"We had a small hit with a tree on the right side, but the car looks OK."
"Very difficult, but it was the first stage which I could enjoy a little. Now to service to repair the car."
"The surface is very slippery, lot of mud, we had three little moments."
"I'm driving slowly, the most important is to finish the rally. I never found this rally so difficult."
"Very slippery, but OK."
"The visibility is even worse than on the previous stage."
SS2
"We had a problem with the intercom so we had to change our helmets with co-driver. We hit something in the first stage."
"Really hard, no visibility at all, lot of mud. The second one was much better."
"It was very tricky, we didn't have grip on the rear. But we tried our best, it was a challenge."
"Difficult, very slippery in some parts."
"Terrible, the wipers stopped working, I couldn't see anything for few kilometers. They are back now."
"It's terrible with the forecast, everybody says there will be no rain and now it's raining. But it's like always. We had a clean run."
"Really slippery, the tyres were working well, but I think we have better ones for this in service. "
"It's really difficult to get the pace, sometimes you have a lot of grip, sometimes it's slippery."
"Great experience, there was heavy rain in the middle of the stage, the grip was terrible. But I really enjoyed it."
"Very difficult, in narrow part of the stage it was very slippery. But the car is OK."
"It was very difficult, some water in the stage, lot of mud. If you push too hard, you loose the car, so we drove slowly not taking any risk."
"Quite difficult to judge the grip, but mostly the grip was not that bad. Sometimes the visibility was low, but no drama, no risk. Too many guys are having problems, we have to keep it steady."
"Difficult, some parts are really slippy, but I'm enjoying. In fast sections it's hard to keep the pace in the fog."
"No power, I don't know what happened, we need to get to the service."
"Very difficult, we tried to push, but the stage was slow, I'm happy now."
"It is very difficult, the car is moving, I don't know how to drive in this."
"Unforutnately the weather is not good, this one was really slippery. We are cleaning the road, but overall it wasn't bad."
"I'm happy, the time is not bad."
"Good start of the stage, but it was slippery and in the end of the stage we lost the car in one place, but nothing special."
spin
SS1
"This was the toughest stage of my life, now we are heading to one even more tough."
"Very difficult, maybe aI lost my eyes somewhere in the stage, I coluldn't see anything. The grip was changing a lot, really difficult."
"Really really difficult, tricky conditions, low visibility. We drive clever, not any flatout."
"We had a puncture, we stopped immediately to change it."
puncture
"Really really difficult, with the setup of the car it was difficult, the rear was moving a lot."
stopped
"I did few kilometers without wipers, I couldn't see anything."
"There was no grip, foggy, very difficult. You have to be really precise and gentle for the throttle. But in general I'm quite happy, no drama."
"I'm not happy, I couldn't see the road, lot of fog and very slippery, I was out of the road few times. But the car is OK, no problem."
"Very difficult, lot of fog in the beginning, in the middle lot of mud and also rain."
"It was difficult, low visibility, grip is changing all the time. Difficult start."
"We have broken wipers and we couldn't see anything. I don't know how but we are here. It stopped working after 2 km in the stage."
"Very very difficult stage, we cought Joan and Rachelle in the stage, very difficult. But thanks to the, we could pass."
"Too slippery in the beginning, the middle section was really muddy. The time is not great, but I did my best."
"It's raining a lot, a lot of fog. Very difficult, I don't know how to drive in these conditions, I have to learn."
"We hit some rock in the stage."
"Very slippery, the visibility is quite low, we missed one junction.."