SS3: Door drama for Delecour, Breen again

François Delecour continues to belie his 50 years by setting the second fastest time on Friday’s final test, despite completing much of the 18.73-kilometre LDz Cargo stage with his car’s door open.

Delecour was 2.8s slower than stage winner and fellow Peugeot 207 Super 2000 driver Craig Breen to close up to Jari Ketomaa in the battle for second overall on Rally Liepāja-Ventspils, round two of the FIA European Rally Championship. Ketomaa, in a Ford Fiesta RRC, is 3.0s behind Breen.

“It was just impossible to close the door,” Delecour told ERC Rally Radio’s Julian Porter at the stage finish. “Every right turn it was coming open, sometimes in sixth gear. I drove most of the stage like this.”

There was disappointment for Vasily Gryazin, who started the stage in sixth overall but has plummeted down the order after damaging the rear suspension of his Mitsubishi Lancer hitting something in the dark.

Jan Černý’s brake woes continue with the Czech reporting that he only has working brakes on three corners of his ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000.

Crews are now heading back to Liepāja for overnight service via an autograph signing session in the city. Saturday’s action begins with the second running of LDz Cargo at 10:20hrs local time.