56. Azores Rallye 2022
ERC #2 • ERC Open #2 • ERC3 #2 • ERC4 #2 • Portugal #2 • Clio Trophy by Toksport WRT #1 • Açores #1 • Açores 2RM #1 • TGR Iberian Cup #1
25. 3. – 27. 3. 2022, Ponta Delgada • Grupo Desportivo Comercial • gravel 204.26 km - (cancelled 11.40 km) • total distance including road sections - 612.65 km • Other years
Açores and TGR Iberian Cup just count until SS7
Info
SS14
"Amazing! We were completely full attack and at the end we made it! It's absolutely incredible!"
"In first gear - at a junction - I was incredibly stupid. I damaged the car probably beyond repair, so I am sorry to everyone."
"I am feeling good. The last Power Stage we did in Fafe was not good, so we managed to finish! This was a good run, so we are happy with our result and let's see how the next one will be for us."
"We are here and this is a big thing for us. We have learned many things about the tyres and the set-up because the whole weekend we couldn't find a good option for this compound of tyres and set-up. But now, at the end of the rally, I think we have found it."
"I tried hard. This weekend we were a bit off the pace and on this one I gave more than 100 per cent. Let's see if we can gain some points."
"It was a very tough rally for us with a lot of problems and difficult conditions. We had a good morning and the car was working, but unfortunately after service we have some problem on the rear and the car was impossible to drive."
"We had a lot of fun. This is a very quick stage with lots of spectators. We finished the rally and I hope we can improve for the next event."
"I changed the driveshaft from back to front and now it's more easy. With only rear traction it's hard to survive. Not the best weekend for us, but this is rally."
"The main goal was to gain experience. We did everything we could to fix the car but unfortunately there is some bigger things. Overall I was feeling good in the car today and our pace was good and quite clean, so I think it could have been a really good result."
"It was a very difficult rally. The puncture was at the beginning of the stage and we touched a big rock on the outside of the corner. It was not the perfect rally for us - we want more - but it's like that."
"It was a difficult rally. Everything went wrong after we jumped the start in qualifying! Okay, this is rally. We finished and let's look to the next one."
SS13
"We drove safely and tried to avoid big risks. We came slowly because last year we ruined everything here. We need to be very focussed."
"We did our best. We pushed very hard and we are happy. It's still a fight."
"We saved two new tyres for the Power Stage. The front right is flat - we had a puncture."
"With the brakes it's much better! For sure it's not a benchmark time but we tried our best."
"I think he has some problems, but he saw me immediately and in a narrow section he let me through. Let's see what time the others can do."
"We broke a driveshaft in the last stage. The battle is finished for us."
"I am more confident with the set-up. I think we are stable in our position so making it to the end is the target."
"After we left the service park I felt something strange on the rear. I don't know if I have a broken anti-roll bar or if it's a problem with the dampers. Sometimes gravel goes inside the damper and the car is completely undriveable."
"Here the pace notes were not so good, but we corrected them. We have done a good job overall, but we are just passing by."
"The grip is better and there's less fog. This stage is worse than the gym - you have to push a lot! I feel a little loss of power, but one more stage and we are done."
"This stage is amazing. It's a huge challenge to do with just two good dampers, but we enjoyed it."
"Driving downhill there is no need for power. This stage was pretty much downhill, so we could drive like a proper rally. We changed the parts [in service] that we thought were the problem, but it looks like it is something bigger."
"We enjoyed this stage again. We changed our set-up and the car became better, but on this stage we had some slippery corners. The car and tyres are working well, so we are really happy."
SS12
"I think we are doing a really good job. We are really happy with the rally and we will keep on trying."
"A safe run with no issues. We have two new tyres in the back, so we will see."
"It's going okay. We are just taking care and not taking any risks. We need to be smart and focussed."
"I don't want to complain anymore - it's fine, all okay. Take it easy and go!"
"I don't know what happened but I have a problem with the transmission. I don't know what happened but I only have rear traction."
"The car is feeling better, it's a little bit more stable. Let's see - now we are going to the end but the next stage will be a big challenge."
"So far we have been careful. We had a clean run so I am good with that. Let's see."
"Very difficult. We have two rear suspension [dampers] broken. Now we try to survive and arrive at the end."
"Still the same. When going uphill, we just need to put it down the lower gears to get up the hill. It's not good."
"We enjoyed. Our set-up is much better. We'll go on and we're looking forward to driving Sete Cidades."
"I think it's broken. I left the service park and something is broken on the rear."
SS10
"It was hard. We got a lot of fog on the straight and the visibility was difficult because you don't know what you're passing through. There are a lot of loose rocks and I was trying to avoid major mistakes."
"I am fighting a lot with the car. It's moving too much and it's impossible to keep the line."
"It was very difficult and much more slippery than we expected. On the top there was massive fog and we couldn't see anything."
"I was very cautious, but it's still a long afternoon and the stages are getting very rough. We will see - a lot of things can still happen."
"A good feeling but we took a lot of risks. The fog is impossible to see and I had to push. It was very difficult to drive fast and very slippery."
"The first 5km was very difficult. I almost crashed two or three times because on the crest the car sent me to the barriers. I had some scary moments and maybe I lost a little bit of confidence, but it's very slippery with no grip and a lot of fog on the top."
"I tried to be cautious but it is tricky for me. Having just one [spare] wheel which we used in the last stage, we had to survive here."
"I have three brakes, but we didn't have time to bleed the system. In places it was quite risky and in the first kilometre we touched the ditched. Considering everything it's not so bad, but it has been a nightmare."
"We liked it. At the top there was a lot of fog, and we couldn't see anything. We are here and we are really happy."
"This stage is amazing, but for us it was not good. It is impossible to drive the car. We had a problem this morning, maybe it's this. The car moves a lot and it's impossible to push."
Stopped.
SS9
"I will try. It will be very hard, but we are in the fight and we want this."
"I was trying to be clean and safe but it's quite rough already. Driving on the island is more than just great."
"I did a spin. It's my mistake - I went too wide and too fast."
"It's very nice to be here. We tried to push but it's very slippery. We will see now in Sete Cidades."
"Difficult conditions. We didn't expect this - it's a tough one. We are here and it's okay."
"The first stage was not okay and this one was not perfect. We are not in a good feeling with the car - it's a little bit soft."
"A big stone. I need to change the tyre and my mindset for Sete Cidades. It's a very tricky stage."
"I lost the brakes completely - probably something in the middle of the stages. I was lucky it was in the uphill. I don't know - it's a new car and every time there is something!"
"I got a puncture in the first section, so we did all of the stage with a rear right puncture. It's good to be at the end."
"We had a problem with our car and it was impossible to fix in service this morning. We are trying to fight, but it's very difficult to drive and we can't push."
"The rally so far was not what we expected, but I am trying to push today with this road position. There is a lot of loose and even on the uphill I could not pull fifth gear because we don't have the traction. For sure the guys behind will make a much better time than me."
"We would like to finish the rally - it's important. The first stage was not a success - we made a mistake and touched the concrete barrier but nothing happened with the car. This stage was okay and we will try to prepare for Sete Cidades."
"It's not good. We have 50% power on the car. We will get it to service and the team will do the best they can to try and fix it."
"The road is okay, but very slippery. We tried to stay on the road and we need to be calm. It's very difficult."
SS8
"There is no local knowledge for this! I was expecting sun today, but it's okay. We have to push."
"Let's see. At the moment it is hard, but we tried to do our best."
"It was very slippery. I don't know the times but it's very, very tricky."
"No problem. Today is very long and it's just a short stage - it will be a nice day."
"We need to see the guys behind. We are happy with our pace. It was a difficult one and after 2km I thought we had a puncture because we hit a huge stone. Luckily I didn't puncture, so we are okay."
"I missed a junction and I had to turn around again. It was a bad stage for us."
"It was fun. We were cautious because it's the first of the morning, but it's all good so I am happy with that."
"We are not looking for Battistolli, we are trying to catch the guys in front of us. This is our main target right now. I had a clean run - it was more wet than we expected in places, but this is how it is."
"This stage is very fast and it's difficult to manage the braking points, but I think the set-up is for more dry conditions and it's now raining a lot."
"I am so frustrated. We had to do things to change the car with the boost and nothing is done. The car has now 50% of power so it's not a good morning."
"We arrived at the start and immediately the rain was coming. We made a mistake on a left corner - there was concrete on the outside and we hit it a little bit with the right side of the car. It was nothing special, we are here and we are really happy."
"We expected it to be dry! The stage was okay. In some parts the grip was changing a lot and I had made some changes thinking about dry conditions, but the feeling was not so bad. It's not a disaster."
"A little bit more slippery than I expected. I went out of line a little bit, but it's okay. We will continue pushing."
SS7
Radiator.
"We had a small off in the previous stage, so we had to repair everything with duct tape and zip ties!"
"It has been a great opportunity for me. I love these stages and it was a great day for me, so I am really happy."
"A long day. Very difficult at the front. I made a mistake yesterday in the selection, but we are here and hopefully it's better tomorrow."
SS6
Steering.
Accident.
"It was a little bit difficult. The road has a clean line, but it was quite deep and sometimes we hit the underside of the car. We didn't make any big mistakes and we are here."
"It was very tricky for sure. We are trying to fight and we did our best. We'll keep pushing."
"I had a spin in the last section. It's a shame - it was a hairpin left and I couldn't recover. I had to turn around and restart."
"I am really happy. I want to say thank you to my team - they changed the car completely in service and now I can drive the car and make times. I am really happy and I want to increase my speed."
"That's crazy because our car almost stopped after the water splash, so we lost two or three seconds! I was quite confident in this stage and it's been a perfect day so far. It's so much fun."
"Maybe I was not pushing enough. It's difficult to maintain this rhythm because the stage is very twisty and narrow. Sometimes you get out of line and then you have to settle down. It's always difficult, but we managed."
"I was not pushing a lot because there is a lot of water and stones in the road. I kept a good rhythm and made no mistakes. It's good."
"Maybe Tempestini had better tyres left, it could be that."
"I don't know the others' times, but we are doing our best. The stage before was really strange for us - we tried to be faster but it was not a good time. Now, we found a lot of ruts in this stage so I had to control the car."
"I was very cautious because the lines were full of water. There was heavy rain at the beginning of the stage so I had to get to the end."
"There is a lot of water and it's very difficult."
SS5
Accident.
"The grip changes suddenly, and we had a couple of big slides but it's okay. There is a lot of standing water and I didn't feel so comfortable, but I tried."
"This morning we had the wrong set-up and lost some time. We changed some details in service and I am much more confident, so my rally starts after lunchtime!"
"Everything is okay. We changed a few things in our set-up, but this stage was very difficult. There was very heavy rain and fog, but we are here. This rally is very long and we will go on."
"It was impossible to drive. It was raining like hell."
"It's quite nice. I am here somehow to give to the people all the love they have given me for 20 years. I hope they are proud to see an Azorean driver again fighting for the podium."
"It's so difficult, but the feeling is quite good and the car is perfect. We just need more mileage on gravel - that's the main thing this weekend."
"I don't know if the time is good. It's raining a lot and at times I can not see anything, but it's good!"
"Tricky. Lots of standing water in the ruts, but when you get to drive the R5 then you are just smiling and driving."
Hitted a concrete barrier with the rear right.
SS4
"Now the road position is not good for sure. We have a lot of water in the road. I don't know times, but I am sure that we are going to lose some time."
"I can put a little bit more energy on the car. We changed the set-up and I am more happy with it. We are trying to improve our classification and I am more relaxed."
"It was quite okay. I think our tyre choice was not the best on this stage, but it's not so bad."
"I knew this stage would be very difficult, so to be fastest [so far] is great, but they are coming fast behind us."
"This one was really loose gravel. We were sliding all over the uphill and the downhill was really difficult to find the grip, but it's okay."
"The first stage that I drive more or less well. It's good - I am happy with my drive and the feeling is very good."
"Not that bad, but if we did this two times it would really destroy the road I think. We started well in the stage and the downhill was okay. In the ending of the stage I let the car slide a little bit too much, but it's okay."
"We enjoyed this stage. I expected it to be more slippery, but there was a lot of loose gravel and it was like flying on the road without so much control. I tried to do my best - I don't think it's a good time but let's see."
"I am enjoying it. That's the most important thing! It was tricky and there is a lot of loose gravel, but it's part of the game. I am feeling well with the car, so it's good."
"In the front it is very complicated because it's more difficult to do all the corners. I feel better in the car now, and I think we can improve a lot."
"I feel better in the car, but it's a lot of work! A lot of hairpins and it's very slippery, but we are doing our best."
SS3
Accident.
Brakes.
Problem after watersplash.
"I was unhappy with SS1, so decided to push for this one as today is for the Azores championship."
"On this stage it was easier for us. Our pace notes are okay and we changed the set-up on the car. I think the time is okay."
"I expect better, because the feeling was correct. We had a moment at the end which was a bit scary, but apart from that it felt okay."
"No issues. The only problem I am fighting a little bit is the set-up. I need to adjust some details in service, but it's a long rally and we are only at the beginning."
"What a stage! It was really twisty. In places it was really good, especially on the last fast section. In the forest I had a small moment where I lost the line and caught the ditch with the rear left."
"The first one was quite tricky, but this one was much more difficult. We will just try to get through without any mistakes. It'll be a long afternoon."
"It's been like a lot of years - very difficult. The grip is changing all the time and there is not a clean line to drive. We went a little bit wide in some places, but we are here."
"It was very tricky and difficult. There's a lot of loose gravel on the road, but I enjoyed it. We have a lot to improve, but we are here to get experience. So far, so good."
"In the middle of the stage on a very narrow place, I spun. I had to put it in reverse about five times! The feeling is good, but I keep making little mistakes."
"I enjoyed the driving, but the grip is changing a lot. We need to improve to understand the surface and things, but I think so far it's okay."
"This one was a bit better for us. It was not so slippery and I think the rain was not so strong. In many places I feel that I am cleaning the road and losing time, but we are trying to do our best."
"This one is very complicated. To go in front is difficult but it's okay. We have to go all day at the front, but I am happy."
"I think I was too quick through the water and there is water everywhere! I felt really confident on this stage, so that made me really happy."
SS2
Accident.
Mechanical.
Differential.
"It is good weather at the finish, but after the start of the stage it was foggy and heavy rain! I was quite careful, but we found a good set-up and we chose a good tyre so we are absolutely okay."
"Really difficult with a lot of fog. Unfortunately we went off in the middle of the stage and we lost some time, but we are here."
"We tried to push at the beginning and then we found the fog like everybody else. It's never easy to adapt the pace, and it's getting rough in the slow corners."
"A proper stage to start! Very tricky and I was not brave enough in sections, but we will see. It will be a long rally."
"It was very difficult. A lot of fog and some standing water in some places and mud. It was completely different to the recce, but we managed."
"Very difficult. In some places it's impossible to see with the fog and the rain and I made a stupid mistake. On an easy left, I spun and I had to reverse."
"The beginning is fully fog and you can not see. Sometimes you have grip, and sometimes you don't. It's really tricky to understand."
"It was difficult. My first time on these stages and the conditions are not optimal, but we managed to get to the end. I didn't drive my best, but it is important to survive today."
"Not happy, unfortunately. I'm not sure if there is something wrong, I need to check the left rear. It's something that I didn't expect."
"We had a little bit more traction, but I am getting more confident in the car. I think we're going in the right way."
"Very, very tough. There is a lot of fog and I had a little stall in the stage. We continue."