•4th place in group A, 12th position in the general ranking
•605 Euro raised for the "Raise and help" campaign
•The next stage: Iasi Rally (May 22nd – 24th)
Timisoara stage, the second one in the Romanian National Rally Championship in 2009, was the first tarmac stage for crew 79 after a break of 8 months. Alex Filip and Bogdan Iancu had a perfect start and after the super special stage they were on the second position of group A and on the 7th in the general ranking. „During the first day everything went on just fine and I was very pleased with the „Dinamobile”, the new nickname of the Citroen C2 R2, and also with the cooperation with Bogdan, my new co-pilot”, said Alex Filip, after the Friday of Timis Rally 2009.
The second day, a day of 14 special stages, Alex Filip felt very deeply the lack of training and testing with the rally car. „I woke up very quickly after the enthusiasm of the first day. On the first four stages of the second day I drove very prudently because I didn't feel very comfortable with the sliding curves. I just couldn't find my rhythm and trust my car.During the recces I didn't note down correctly the Nadrag special stage, the key stage of the rally raced two times, where I have lost my chance to finish on the podium”, said Alex Filip, in the first service park of the second day.
In these conditions, Timisoara stage became a test in race rhythm. Alex Filip and Bogdan Iancu increased the rhythm progressively and in the end they finished the rally on the fourt position of the ranking of group A and on the 12th position in the general ranking. „I got along just fine with my new copilot even from our first rally but we still need more time to completely adapt to each other. The assistance team from Colina Motors did its job perfectly and we had no technical problem. Our single problem was the lack of testing before this stage. We had to sacrifice this rally as a testing stages for the followinfg rallies as well and I am pleased with the progress we have done. Still I am not pleased with the final result, because it would have been great to get a podium in group A”, said Alex Filip, at the end of Timisoara rally.
Starting with Timisoara rally, crew 79 began the „Race and Help” campaign also: at every race, Alex Filip's
sponsors will donate 5 Euro for charity purpose for each kilometer of raced special stage. In Timis Rally, in the „Race and Help” account were added 605 Euro. „Even if two of the special stages were canceled, I have decided together with Coza Advertising, one of our sponsors, to donate all the amount to „Casa Sperantei” Brasov Hospice Foundation, added Alex Filip.
The next stage of the Dunlop National Rally Championship is scheduled between May 22nd - 24th on the special stages around Iasi. „I know Alex Filip feels better on gravel and I am sure at Iasi Rally we will fight for a place on the podium. We have a break of one month when we have planned a few testing sessions and I am sure we will be better prepared for Iasi race.”, said Bogdan Iancu, the copilot of crew 79.
Berti Panaiot - PR Officer
Rally Crew FILIP/IANCU
www.alexandrufilip.ro
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