RALLY: Radstrom and Ford on Target for Points in Argentina
25 May 1999
Ford Martini World Rally Team drivers Thomas Rdstrm and Fred Gallagher remain firmly on course for a points scoring finish following todays second leg of the Rally Argentina, round seven of the FIA World Rally Championship. The duo returned to the rally base in Cordoba in sixth position in their Ford Focus World Rally Car after another controlled performance on their first visit to South Americas only round of the series.The 33-year-old Swedish driver and his Scottish-based co-driver, who re-started this morning in sixth, were again models of consistency during todays seven special stages, covering 127km across vast, open plains. Huge crowds, swelled by the countrys national holiday, again flocked to the region to watch the worlds top stars in action over the gravel tracks.
"Im very pleased with my performance today and my times compared well with the drivers ahead who have much greater experience of the Argentinian roads," said Rdstrm. "The stages were very different to those of yesterday. They had a hard-based clay surface and, apart from the odd patch of mud, it was almost like driving on asphalt rather than gravel.
"Tomorrows leg covers some of the finest rally roads Ive seen. Theyre just as I like them, fast and flowing, and Im really looking forward to it. There was no fog when we practised them last week so we have good notes and well be charging hard," he said.
Ford Martini team director Malcolm Wilson was impressed by the maturity displayed by the Scandinavian. "Considering Thomas has never been here before and had such a difficult recce, hes driven very well. Four of the drivers ahead of him have won the world championship 10 times between them and Richard Burns has competed here three times, so in that type of company I feel Thomas has driven remarkably well.
"Our aim for Thomas was always to achieve points and support Colin McRae. Hes under no great pressure from behind and I see no reason why he cant consolidate or improve his position tomorrow," added Wilson.
Tomorrows Route
The final leg heads south of Cordoba to the regions Lake District, where the roads are fast and flowing. Three stages around Santa Rosa de Calamuchita, each run twice, make up 132km of action in a total route of 474km. The drivers leave Cordoba at 07.30 and return to the citys spectacular Olympic Stadium at 17.00 for the finish ceremony in front of thousands of fans - one of the highlights of the season.
Editors Note: For hundreds of hot racing photos and racing art, be sure to visit The Racing ImageGalleries and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.