2008 BP ultimate Acropolis Rally, after SS 20
- Young talent Bernardo Sousa gets his first world championship podium
place / P2!
- Aigner takes lead in P-WRC standings with win.
What a finale to the 2008 Acropolis Rally from the Red Bull Rally perspective! Both driving duos landed a place on the podium.
Aigner/Wicha had a clear lead going into today’s final day with Sousa/Carvalho in a strong and secure third place.
Then things got very interesting indeed this morning: Aigner suffered differential damage to his Mitsubishi in SS 14 as the oil ran out. The young Austrian driver bravely managed to trawl has car around two stages before the next service. The pair lost almost two minutes but Aigner/Wicha continued the rally with a new differential and a 30 second lead over the Latvian pair of Rauam/Kutt.
Sousa also had some morning trouble, on SS 16, driving a little too hard over a crest and wrecking the undercarriage of his Red Bull Mitsubishi. The Portuguese driver’s car got a complete overhaul in the service as the twisted components were bent back into shape etc.
Both pairs could then go on the attack during the final four stages and immediate improvement could be seen straight from SS 17.
At the end of the 17th of 20 stages Aigner still held a 30 second lead over Rauam. Sousa was third in the P-WRC standings just 20 seconds behind Rauam and 30 seconds ahead of Armindo Araujo. As the remainder of the rally unfolded, both pairs were even able to build up their advantages.
After 20 special stages, the last special stage ‘Tatoi’ was carried out over a relatively short four kilometer course. After that it was confirmed that both Red Bull Rally Team pairs were on the podium for the first time!
Aigner/Wicha (AUT/GER) thus added a P-WRC win in Greece to their Argentina success, finishing 14th in the overall standings.
Sousa/Carvalho (POR/POR) landed a magnificent second place in perhaps the most difficult rally of the season. Latvian pair of Rauam/Kutt has been disqualified due to technical problems.
Andreas Aigner: "Last year we were second here and were on the podium for the first time. Today we got the win that we have all fought for. I never gave up and always tried to finish the rally as quickly as possible, without taking any risks. After the mistake right at the start and today’s technical difficulties it is a fantastic achievement for the whole team!"
Bernardo Sousa: "That was definitely my most difficult but also the best rally of my life. I still can’t quite believe it – I am on the podium in a world championship race, incredible. After making a mistake and wrecking my undercarriage I was begging all the Greek gods: please, keep my car in one piece, and it worked! A huge thank you goes out to the whole team."
Team boss Raimund Baumschlager: "As team boss today is without a doubt the greatest day of my whole career. I have to genuinely say that the whole team worked incredibly hard. I had my misgivings as to whether both cars would be able to come home after today’s incidents but eventually we were rewarded and the success was complete.
Aigner showed that he is ready to compete for the world title and can aim for even higher things in rallying.
With Sousa we have discovered a raw talent as we expected – hopefully things will continue in this vein at the forthcoming Turkish rally."
Aigner/Wicha’s end of day report: P-WRC/ Overall
SS 14: Avlonas 1 15.14 km P 17/35
SS 15: Assopia 1 18.52 km P 16/34
SS 16: Aghia Sotira 1 15.20 km P 16/32
SS 17: Avlonas 2 15.14 km P 06/20
SS 18: Assopia 2 18.52 km P 03/15
SS 19: Aghia Sotira 2 15.20 km P 05/18
Sousa/Carvalho’s end of day report: P-WRC/ Overall
SS 14: Avlonas 1 15.14 km P 11/27
SS 15: Assopia 1 18.52 km P 08/24
SS 16: Aghia Sotira 1 15.20 km P 09/24
SS 17: Avlonas 2 15.14 km P 08/22
SS 18: Assopia 2 18.52 km P 07/19
SS 19: Aghia Sotira 2 15.20 km P 03/16
- Thomas Blazek, Christian Kuda- also photos
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