From www.crash.net

The Skoda Motorsport World Rally Team began its 2005 World Rally Championship programme with ninth place for Alex Bengue at the Monte Carlo Rally, a result that brought one Manufacturers' Championship point.

This was only Bengue's second Monte Carlo Rally and the first in a WRC car but he showed great pace, especially on the second day when he scored two stage victories.

The Frenchman re-started this morning under new rules that allowed damaged cars to be repaired and returned to the competition.

The Skoda mechanics got the Fabia WRC back to Monaco at 0200 hours this morning and worked flat out to get it ready for the 0652 hours restart after Bengue had to stop on the road section after SS9 with a broken wheel.

"The roads today were much more dirty and slippery than yesterday so I could not attack as hard as before," commented Bengue at the end of leg 3.

"Also spectators had thrown snow onto the road on the Col du Turini and this made it very dangerous on the col and at the start of the downhill section. Overall I am very pleased with this result because we achieved what we set out to do on this rally.

"We had very good speed in the right conditions but I am sorry to have had the problem on yesterday's final stage. Without it I could possibly have finished fifth or even fourth on this rally."

"We are very happy to start the season with a World Championship point but a little disappointed that it wasn't more," added Skoda boss, Martin Muehlmeier.

"With the time penalty Alex couldn't achieve the result he deserved and so he sensibly drove safely to secure a finish."

9th with a time penalty.

Not a bad start at all

here we go...

Could have sworn it was him that rolled it.

Steve

Could have sworn it was him that rolled it.

Steve

New rules for 2005.

They can re-start after a crash that would normally end their rally(if the mechanics can repair it), but they pick up a time penalty.

Couple of stage wins too. Not a bad start at all.

Thought it was the other one that rolled it.schwarz? don't think subaru got any points did they?.the fabia looked and sounded amazin.Mitsubishi looked rather nice too.have they tidied it up?

crackin pic paul

on itv they didn't show much of the skodas also said they didn't win anything or am i going mad???

on itv they didn't show much of the skodas also said they didn't win anything or am i going mad???

ITV don't do Skoda :( Any one know of a e-mail address at ITV that will get results if we complain

what other channels show the rallies??

It was Schwarz who rolled it (rather spectacularly I must say). He was flown to a hospital for a checkup and he suffered a dislocated shoulder.

ITV don't do Skoda :( Any one know of a e-mail address at ITV that will get results if we complain

If ITV are anything like C4 then its a waste of time emailing them.

Fantastic to see that Solberg drives in an identical fashion to myself when i'm on the ps2. Always drive with my mouth open for some reason :eek:

Anyway....when's the next one and where.is it Sweden?

what other channels show the rallies??

Eurosport show them I believe.

Eurosport show them I believe.

They normally do a preview programme a couple of days before the rally, repeat in on the Friday morning. Do a half hour programme each night, repeated the following morning and the a review programme a couple of nights later, which is also repeated.

They also do a review of the JWRC / Production Cup a couple of days after the rally.

BTW did anyone see the 1st round of the JWRC, those cars are the business. See the McRae Motorsport stickers on the front of Meekes car, do they do rally preparation

BTW Theres a review of the Monte on Eurosport 2 tomorrow evening (Friday) @1700 British Time and on British Eurosport on Saturday @1815 British Time, the JWRC Review follows it.

Theres also a programme on about Leob tomorrow morning at 9:30am on MotorsTV. I presume its about it journey to the top, it should be good.