Nani Roma’s debut with the Mitsubishi Lancer 2.0l Turbo in the Baja España Aragón resulted in second position in the two special stages contested today, in which the Repsol driver was 2 minutes and 52 seconds behind Stéphane Peterhansel. However, a mistake from yesterday on entering the support paddock may mean a 41 minute penalty, pending an appeal which will be submitted by the team.
The stage was made up of two timed sections, the first of which was 132 kilometers, including a first technical and windy stretch which then opened up into much faster tracks. It is on this terrain where Nani Roma’s Mitsubishi Lancer was at a disadvantage, limited by power which affects petrol-powered cars in contrast to diesel-powered, and he ended up conceding 1 minute and 40 seconds.
In the second special stage of 177 kilometers, the terrain was much more uniform and he kept up a more consistent pace. Apart from a small mountainous stretch, the competitors again encountered the classic fast Baja España Aragón tracks, at the end of which Roma had dropped another minute and 12 seconds. However, a mistake yesterday at the time of entry into the support paddock, may cost him a penalty which would leave the Repsol driver far away from the battle for the final win.
Nani Roma
“I’m really happy because, honestly, to get into a car without having tried it out beforehand, more than momentarily on Thursday, and be battling against a driver as good as Stéphane Peterhansel, is something to feel good about. He’s better than us on several points, especially on the fast stretches where we are limited by the flange but, we are having a very good race. It will be a shame if they penalize us, because of a confusion we’ve incurred a very influential penalty, but we have to accept it and see if we can appeal”.
