Lukyanuk

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Real shame for Lukyanuk and his fans & sponsors. He has real speed and bravery - it would have been great to see it in Finland.

Suppose the crash shows he was really pushing and he wasnt here just for appearances..

[mousti]

'So, rally Finland is finished for us before the start. On the test stage I was too fast over jump and failed to correct the speed and line fo the next turn. It seems unreal, but it's done... I'm sorry, I disappointed a lot of people, who trusted me, Mihail Lepehov, Malcolm Wilson and many others... Sorry for our team and fans...We will recover, but first and last chance in WRC is waisted. Thanks for your attention and support. A. Lukyanuk'

:-/

[EstWRC]

Like he said, first and last chance. No one else to blame than himself.

[nafpaktos]

edit

[N.O.T]

it is a pity he wasted his chance like that.

[Ounin]

'So, rally Finland is finished for us before the start. On the test stage I was too fast over jump and failed to correct the speed and line fo the next turn. It seems unreal, but it's done... I'm sorry, I disappointed a lot of people, who trusted me, Mihail Lepehov, Malcolm Wilson and many others... Sorry for our team and fans...We will recover, but first and last chance in WRC is waisted. Thanks for your attention and support. A. Lukyanuk'

:-/

In huge contrast with our dear drivers on the circuits, he is honest to blame it all by himself and no other bullshit about handling and/or other stuff... Lukas and many of his fans -me included- were aware of this limited once in a lifetime chance.

[Allyc85]

Gutted for him, but to crash like that so close to the start of his first run in the car is mad really

[Hartusvuori]

I was spectating at Lukyanuk/Prokop test. It's a familiar test road used every year by some team, for example Skoda used in June and Hyundai last year. Test started a little late I think, though of course the drivers had limited mileage and enough time, so... When I arrived, Lukyanuk was driving the stage without helmet, checking the pacenotes and getting used to the car, I think. He did that again a little later. Prokop did same one way, but returned in almost full speed.

I moved to a crest that is a jump, line continues straight, but road turns slightly right with a big rock on the left. I just found a video on my iPad with sound of Fiesta and then bang, bang and bang. I was about 150 metres away.

It was a place with jump and another jump into lefthander. There was rock on the right. You can see from the pictures how Lukyanuk approached that place. Eyewitness told Lukyanuk did not lift at all to either of jumps. At previous tests drivers have hold the car to on the last jump at least. There were only 3-4 (Russian) spectators (two photogs, ms. Arnautova), marshall and his son who witnessed the crash. I tried to talk with Lukyanuk, but he was very disappointed, out of words. Quite quickly the place was cleared, and I continued to Keuruu to see P3 drivers test.

I think this was very huge mistake for Lukyanuk and it can't be explained by saying he had to give in all. It was not the rally yet, but the first time he drove that car in anger. He was less than 3 kms into that first run. He had nothing to proove there. 2-3 clean, more slow runs, and then start to attack if needed. The road was also slippery. It had rained during the past days and the morning too. This was very fatal mistake considering his career. I like the guy, working mans hero, but this is not the way.

On the way to Keuruu I accidently went by Citroen JWRC test + Lefebvre. That was only a small stop for me.

Reached Keuruu in the afternoon. Road conditions were already quite rough which caused Tidemand's cooler damage and also puncture for Camilli and maybe some else too. Fabias seemed extremely stable on the rough too. Lappi took one rough part very calmly, but fast where Fiesta drivers like Camilli and Pedder approached the place like it was their last corner.

Nice start for the rally week. Six days left ��

[AndyRAC]

I feel for him - a fabulous opportunity, and it's ended before it really started. Should he really have been pushing so hard in testing? Probably not, but you never learn by driving slowly - even at a test.
Just shows that rallying is a 'cruel mistress' - unlike a circuit racer, you can't get away with mistakes - you're in the trees and the car is severely damaged.

Some drivers seem to get plenty of chances, without proving anything - yet this seemed to be his only chance. Sometimes the WRC seems like a 'closed shop'.

[N.O.T]

the sad thing is that this mistake could just be a simple one that every driver does once in a while and not because he was pushing beyond his limits... we will never know.

Even if he gets another chance now in a WRC i really doubt we will see the same Lukyanuk we see in ERC.