Toni Gardemeister aims for podium in WRC Portugal
Hallinta Hoop, 22.3.2007
Toni Gardemeister and his co-driver Jakke Honkanen rallies selected WRC events in season 2007. Finnish duo starts seasons fifth WRC event in Portugal with Mitsubishi Lancer WRC'05 rally car.
In past three WRC events Gardemeister has shown good special stage results. Due seventh place in Monte Carlo and sixth place in Sweden he is now in 10th position in WRC standings. From Portugal Gardemeister seeks podium position.
Gardemeister didn't participate to Mexico. However he believes his goals are realistic even he knows that its' going to take hard work to reach it. To ease the road Mitsubishi has developed the car especially in suspension section. Gardemeister and his co-driver Jakke Honkanen took a pre-rally test in Portugal at the start of the week. Both drivers were satisfied for the work Mitsubishi had done.
– In first three rallies we were heading for podium until a small mistake or surprise technical problem reduced our chances for success. In each rally we have noticed Mitsubishi being strong and competitive rally car - There is no other reason why we're seeking success with it in WRC Portugal, told Gardemeister.
– New suspension parts have developed Mitsubishi Lancer WRC'05 into one step higher. Due development work I have much more confidence for the car. Therefore we had a fantastic pre-rally tests as our expectations gets higher and higher each day. We believe to be strong opponent for our rivals in WRC Portugal, Gardemeister continued.
Season roundup good special stage times
In WRC the battle for manufacturer seats is very rough. Gardemeister was Ford manufacturer driver in season 2005 but was forced to step into a role of a privateer in season 2006. In four WRC he finished in positions 3 to 5.
Because manufacturer seat situation was not eased up in season 2007 Gardemeister and his co-driver Jakke Honkanen continues showing their skills in selected WRC-events with Mitsubishi Lancer WRC. In past three events Gardemeister has finished in positions 7 and 6. He was forced to retire in Norway due vanishing into norwegian snowbanks.
– Results does not tell whole truth. In Monte Carlo we fought fantastic seventh position under unregular conditions. Mitsubishi had not done any testings in tarmac for whole year. Therefore after one day of pre-rally test we were very satisfied for seventh position. In Sweden we were fastest after first stage and until sixth stage were in third position. After a spin and technidal difficulties we were forced to drop down in scoreboard. Sixth position was not a dissapointment even we had better chances for success. This was also our case in Norway as for ninth stage we had a good battle with f.ex Petter Solberg. However we were forced to retire the event due offroad from fifth position in tenth stage, told Gardemester and continued, - For each rally I have started by aiming into top three positions. This is our plan in WRC Portugal.
WRC Portugal is to be rallied in between 30th March and 1st April 2007. Toni Gardemeister and his co-driver Jakke Honkanen starts the rally with number 17. For first leg they start in 10th position.
Brand new website
Toni Gardemeister has opened a brand new website for improving f.ex his relations for his fans. Via his new website Toni wants to share his rally feelings and take surfer deeper into fashinating world of rally sport.
New website is produced by Plopcrew Productions - a studio of digital media. Plopcrew Productions is the same company which has produced f.ex Marcus Grönholm, Mikko Hirvonen, Jussi Välimäki and Kristian Sohlberg websites.