Rally Argentina - news after stage 19

After the first three special stages of the third and final leg, Ford Martini World Rally Team drivers Thomas Rådström and Fred Gallagher are still lying sixth in their Ford Focus World Rally Car. The 33-year-old Swedish driver is revelling in the sunny and warm conditions, competing on stages which he is enjoying and attacking hard.

“Yes, they suit my style and I’m pushing quite hard this morning,” said Rådström, who nevertheless dropped around 20 seconds on the opening Santa Rosa de Calamuchita - San Augustin stage. “It’s really frustrating. We came down a sixth gear straight into a watersplash and the windscreen just misted up. We had to stop because I just couldn’t see. The stages are nice, fast and flowing and we had developed a good rhythm but there was just nothing we could do,” he said.

Ford Martini mechanics believe the problem originated yesterday when they replaced the original windscreen, which was cracked by a stone, with a temporary one. They think water seeped into the car via the seals and have added more sealant to prevent a repetition.

This morning’s first stage saw the end of Freddy Loix’s rally, the Belgian retiring 5km from the end of the 26.16km test with broken suspension. Piero Liatti, lying seventh behind Rådström, lost time on stage 19 when a heavy landing after a vicious crest damaged his Seat’s radiator and oil cooler. The damage is such that he will have to drive with extreme caution over the final three stages to protect the car and the team expect him to lose further time.

Drivers now repeat the same three stages before returning to the rally base of Cordoba for the finish ceremony in the city’s Olympic Stadium.

Leaderboard after stage 19

1. R Burns/R Reid GB Subaru Impreza 3hr 40min 27.7sec

2. J Kankkunen/J Repo FIN Subaru Impreza 3hr 40min 37.9sec

3. D Auriol/D Giraudet F Toyota Corolla 3hr 40min 50.8sec

4. C Sainz/L Moya E Toyota Corolla 3hr 41min 46.8sec

5. T Mäkinen/R Mannisenmaki FIN Mitsubishi Lancer 3hr 41min 55.0sec

6. T Rådström/F Gallagher S Ford Focus 3hr 44min 33.1sec

7. P Liatti/C Cassina I Seat WRC 3hr 45min 16.1sec

8. G Trelles/M Christie ROU Mitsubishi Lancer 3hr 59min 14.1sec

9. C Menzi/R Ortiz RA Subaru Impreza 4hr 00min 20.9sec

10 J Recalde/J Garcia RA Mitsubishi Lancer 4hr 00min 47.5sec

For more information: Contact Mark Wilford or Duncan Gallagher on the Ford Martini World Rally team press desk in Cordoba Tel: + 54 351 4825579 Fax: + 54 351 4825578