wrc.com:
"Drivers reported around eight kilometres of snow on the Col du Turini section after this week's recce, but warm weather means that this is likely to disappear before the start of the event. The drivers are more concerned, however, by the fact that patches of ice and snow litter the route at irregular intervals - a situation that is unlikely to change over the weekend.
With cars all likely to run slick tyres for the dry asphalt sections which make up most of the route, rather than studded tyres for snow and ice, drivers will face the prospect of hitting low-grip patches at speed on unsuitable tyres. "For me, this is going to be much more difficult than Monte Carlo rallies of the past, which were much more consistent," said new Peugeot signing Markko Martin in today's pre-rally press conference. "The organisers have chosen the most difficult route they could this year. It will be very tricky. Don't like it when you think it's okay and there's a difficult part, because that's when you make mistakes."
Martin's views were backed up by reigning champion Sebastien Loeb, who is looking for a third straight win on this event. "I agree with Markko," the Citroen ace said. "This year will be quite different and because of that it's an unknown feature in what is already a difficult rally. I'll find it strange if we don't see any snow at all, but we'll be using mostly slick tyres this year rather than studs. This obviously makes things very difficult when you come across a place which is very slippery."
Luvassa lienee ulosajoja normaaliakin enemmän, jos Loebin ja Märtinin arvioon on uskomista.
