It was a good Monday inside the NWM-Ford Performance "office" on Rally dos Sertões day two. On a 374-km stage won by fellow Ford racers Cristian Baumgart and Beco Andreotti from Brazils X Rally Team, Lance Woolridge was one again third - the same position he sustains in the overall standings alongside his Brazilian co-pilot Marcelo Haseyama.
"It was good. The first half after the refueling was rough like in South Africa. Therefore, I pushed quite hard, but obviously not hard enough because Marcos caught us and got past. Nevertheless, I think I am still getting used to the differences. The surface is very dry and loose all the time. After the refueling it flowed a little more, like a rally stage and I really liked it", told Lance, in only the second day of his first international appearance driving the NWM-Ford Performance Ford Ranger V8.
Haseyama gave his insights. "The day started with some quick stretches, than a heavy trial - on which the car behaved wonderfully well - and some dust. The fesh-fesh lifted up by the UTVs held us for some moments, but in general, the stage was surprise-free".
Lance is looking forward to step on the gas tomorrow, when the Sertões leave the city of Cavalcante to Posse on another hard day. There will be 643 kilometers, of which 376 kms will be against the clock. "We could have gained some time back, but Cristian and Varela are far ahead. My goal is to get through the days with no problems, and the car is behaving perfectly. Over the next few days I will try to make up some time. I am happy for now", Woolridge concluded.
Communication between the duo is still building up, but they point that this is not a problem. At all. "The Sertões is only in the beginning, and we are getting more and more used to each other. Although he is South-African and I am Brazilian, we speak the rally language", Haseyama said.
DAY 2 - Results:
1º) Cristian Baumgart/Beco Andreotti (FORD X RALLY TEAM), 4h54min26s;
2º) Reinaldo Varela/Gustavo Gugelmin (TOYOTA), 4h57min18s;
3º) Lance Woolridge/Marcelo Heseyama (NWM-FORD PERFORMANCE), 5h06min59s;
4º) Marcos Baumgart/Kleber Cincea (FORD X RALLY TEAM, 5h07min05s;
OVERALL AFTER STAGE 2:
1º) Cristian Baumgart/Beco Andreotti - 6h31min09s
2º) Reinaldo Varela/Gustavo Gugelmin - 6h37min10s (+6min01s)
3º) Lance Woolridge/Marcelo Haseyama - 6h48min14s (+17min04s)
4º) Marcos Baumgart/Kleber Cincea - 6h49min47s (+18min38s)
WHAT THEY ARE UP TO THE NEXT DAYS:
06/09 - Round 3
Cavalcante (GO) - Posse (GO)
Stage: 376,41 km
Total: 643,48 km
07/09 - Round 4
Posse (GO) - Luís Eduardo Magalhães (BA)
Stage: 361,94 km
Total: 560,15 km
08/09 - Round 5 - Marathon Stage
Luís Eduardo Magalhães (BA) - Mateiros (TO)
Stage: 425,67 km
Total: 461,14 km
09/09 - Round 6 - Marathon Stage
Mateiros (TO) - Ponte Alta (TO)
Stage: 514,98 km
Total: 520,95 km
10/09 - Round 7
Ponte Alta (TO) - Palmas (TO)
Stage: 191,54 km
Total: 243,61 km
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FURTHER INFORMATION IN BRAZIL
P1 Media Relations
CLEBER BERNUCI, Press Officer
+55 (19) 992 222 517
cleber@xrallyteam.com.br
FURTHER INFORMATION IN SOUTH AFRICA
Mileman Media
+27 (82) 897 6145
COLIN MILEMAN, Press Officer
colin@milemanmedia.co.za