Maine Forest Rally | Friday, August 2nd, 2003
Team Mitsubishi Motor Sports America prepares for Friday's start
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David Higgins and Daniel Barritt again off to a great start in Maine
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Lauchlin O'Sullivan and Christian Edstrom charge past a group of spectators
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As night fell, Team Mitsubishi Motor Sports American performed flawlessly, claiming the top two spots after day one
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Technicians prepare Michelin rally tires
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Day 1 Update
Friday, August 2nd, 2003
Team Mitsubishi Motor Sports America
2003 Maine Forest Rally: Day 1 News & Notes
Higgins and O'Sullivan both on track for strong finish in Maine
As the Friday portion of this year’s Maine Forest Rally kicked off, Team Mitsubishi Motor Sports America followed in the tracks of their successes from earlier this season. The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolutions pulled into the final service stop in a one-two position with David Higgins and Daniel Barritt holding a half-minute lead over teammates Lauchlin O’Sullivan and Christian Edstrom. Both these pairs drove fast and precisely over the rough Maine roads, but Higgins shone brightest, calmly driving to first place after day one.
O’Sullivan and Edstrom should be commended for an outstanding effort after day one of the Maine Forest Rally. O’Sullivan explained that he has been working on his driving skills, and is much more confident behind the wheel. “I’m not left-foot breaking the whole way through the turns, instead I’m trusting my notes more,” he told us. This allows for faster exit speeds from the corners, and with the Lancer Evolution’s stable nature under extreme speeds, the team is making great gains.
Before the race started, David Higgins spoke about his prospects. “The weather’s going to help with possibility for dust problems. It’s a tough rally and you’ve got to keep it in the middle of the road… it’s going to be quite a challenge. The team’s in great spirits and everyone’s in good form.”
After a very successful first day, Motor Sports Director Dick Kelly spoke of the day’s accomplishments and their origins. “With our testing, we found a combination of suspension settings that made David and Laughlin more in tune with the car. Those settings have made the cars much more stable in the high speed corners and on the straights. They’re really beginning to feel like they can exploit the total envelope of the car.”
He went on to talk of the driver’s themselves. “We’re hoping for a great result tomorrow. We know that these guys can show the maturity and control needed to bring these cars in at the top. Lauchlin has really been able to up his game and his running times are very very competitive. He’s closer to David and feeling extremely comfortable and extremely confident in the car.”
With the majority of the stage miles remaining, the rally is far from over. Team Mitsubishi Motor Sports America could not have had a better start to this rally, and hope to hold this form through the remainder of the event.
Quotes
“We’re hoping for a great result tomorrow. We know that these guys can show the maturity and control needed to bring these cars in at the top. Lauchlin has really been able to up his game and his running times are very very competitive. He’s closer to David and feeling extremely comfortable and extremely confident in the car.” - Dick Kelly, Mitsubishi Motor Sports Director
Team driver Lauchlin O'Sullivan, on his new driving techniques: "I’m not left-foot breaking the whole way through the turns, instead I’m trusting my notes more,”
“The weather’s going to help with possibility for dust problems. It’s a tough rally and you’ve got to keep it in the middle of the road… it’s going to be quite a challenge. The team’s in great spirits and everyone’s in good form.” - David Higgins before the start of the 2003 Maine Forest Rally
