WRC Cyprus

At the beginning of the season I was worried that with so few competitors, the racing might not be very exciting. This race dispelled any such concerns.

Cyprus was a mixed surface event with day 1 on tarmac. But, in order to reduce costs, the teams were required run gravel tires, brakes, and shocks, which made day 1 really difficult for most drivers. The one exception was Loeb who used worn tires on the front wheels. This proved to be a canny choice and he was impossible to catch. Even after the other drivers followed his example, Loeb was still impossible to catch! With what was basically a gravel setup on asphalt, Loeb was able to out drive everyone else. The guy really is in a class of his own.

Petter Solberg was amazing! He managed a podium after driving like there was no tomorrow. This might be the most fun he has had in a WRC car for a long time. I really didn't think he had much chance driving a three old car, but he did great job. It is worth noting that, although the older car is down on power, it does has more advanced technology like active differentials, so I wonder how much of an advantage that would give him. Petter's biggest advantage is that there are no team orders and he doesn't have to worry about manufacturer points. I'm sure Sordo would have tried to regain the place if he was allowed to race Solberg. I hope Petter's sponsorship holds up so that he can participate in the remaining races. His presence is badly needed to keep this season interesting.