Acropolis Rally of Greece FIA World Rally Championship, round 7/15
Athens, Greece 31.05.08 Day two
Stages: 6
Weather: Sunny
Temperature range: 23-34 Celsius
Time difference: Greece is GMT + 3hours
The day…
This was a typical Acropolis Rally day, with some of the hottest temperatures and roughest roads of the year challenging the fastest rally drivers in the world. Reigning FIA African Rally Champion Conrad Rautenbach and co-driver David Senior emerged from the six stages holding a place inside the top 10 – having started the morning 14th.
Rautenbach, 23, was caught out on the first stage of the day, the infamous Aghii Theodori test (the longest of the rally at 32.16km). He slid into a ditch halfway through the stage and punctured the front-right tyre. After scrabbling out of the ditch, he then had to stop and change the puncture.
The PH Sport team had made changes to the set-up of the car, raising the ride height and softening the differential in the search for more traction on the rock-hard Greek roads. The changes worked and, with a further tweak at the lunchtime service halt, Rautenbach's times got quicker and quicker through the trouble-free afternoon, culminating with fourth fastest on the day's final test.
The quick quote…
"I was relaxed and really in a groove with the car this afternoon. We were having a lot of fun on what is one of the classic rallies in the world championship."
Conrad's full story…
"Today's been about our fight back up the leaderboard and what a great day – we're in the top 10. The day didn't start so well: we went off the road into a ditch on a quick corner. Once we were out of the ditch, we realised we'd have to stop and change a puncture, which cost us more time. After that, though, the day got better and better. In the afternoon, we were really on it with the car. The handling changes which the team made through the day have all worked a treat.
"Again it's taking me a bit of time to realise just how much you have to get on top of the car to get the best out of it. I think I've beenguilty of worrying a bit too much about the car. If we have a problem, I'm concerned that if I push too hard we might get the problem back or make it worse. It doesn't work that way. This car is there to be driven hard and it's the way it works best. I'm coming to terms with that and latterly today I've felt a lot more comfortable driving in that style.
"I've found a good rhythm this afternoon. Okay, I was still being cautious in places, you had to be – these stages are easily the roughest we have seen all year. I have been in some rougher places, but they've all been in Africa. I don't mind the rough, though. I'm loving this event.
The Acropolis is a classic. It's one of the biggest and most prestigious rallies around – and I like the challenge of having to pick your way through the rocks. Most rallies these days are about getting in the car, finding top gear and leaving the car there for three days. That's certainly not the case here. This rally is about driving with your head as much as your right foot. It's fantastic."
-CR -
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