Llarena won the fan vote ahead of Johan Kristoffersson, Hayden Paddon and Petter Solberg for what he said to ERC stage-end reporter Peter MacKay at the completion of stage six of Rally di Rome Capitale, Santopadre - Fontana Liri.
“I come in so fast because I need to go to the toilet.” Llarena said on his way to returning to the ERC podium for the first time in more than a year.
In a video message played out during the ERC Awards event in Katowice earlier this month, Llarena said: “It was just a joke but it was nice to win something during the year. In Rome we had a very good performance, we were back to the podium again and it was really emotional for us.”
Here’s a reminder of what the other nominees said:
Kristoffersson’s homologated diaper call
Somewhat alarmed by the high-speed BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia roads on his comeback to the sport, World Rallycross star Johan Kristoffersson told ERC stage-end reporter Peter MacKay at the completion of SS2, Grönlund, that he would need some help from motorsport’s world governing body. Sweden’s greatest motorsport all-rounder said: “Oh my god! I need FIA-approved diapers for rally. We almost went off in the first corner of the stage.”
Paddon makes time for sightseeing
As super special stages go, few compare to Rally di Roma Capitale’s traditional opening test, Colosseo ACI Roma, which runs in front of the world-famous Colosseum. ERC champion Hayden Paddon, with co-driver John Kennard by his side, was impressed: “It’s one of the coolest [super specials] you do. The stage is irrelevant here, it’s all about the location. I said to John, ‘welcome to Paddon’s tours, five bucks, hop in, there’s a pretty building on the right-hand side’.”
Solberg’s one word said it all
Peter Solberg had one thing to say after Peter MacKay told him there was smoke and fire coming from the engine bay of his Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 following 2.23 kilometres of BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia: “Fire!”, before the 2003 world champion drove off in full panic mode.
Estonia
Poland
Turkey