Acropolis Rally of Greece FIA World Rally Championship, round 7/15
Athens, Greece 01.06.08 Day three
Stages: 7
Weather: Sunny
Temperature range: 19-27 Celsius
Time difference: Greece is GMT + 3 hours
The day…
This year's Acropolis Rally of Greece certainly had a sting in its tail for reigning FIA African Rally Champion Conrad Rautenbach, who was forced to stop and change a puncture on the day's fifth stage (SS18, Assopia 2). Despite suffering a front-right deflation, Rautenbach and co-driver David Senior posted more encouraging times to collect a top-10 finish on what was undoubtedly one of the roughest Acropolis Rallies in memory.
The puncture robbed Rautenbach of his chance of scrapping for ninth position with Suzuki factory driver Toni Gardemeister. After not feeling 100 per cent fit throughout the rally and having dropped time with technical problems as well as the puncture, Rautenbach was satisfied to place his car in the top 10.
The rally ended in a positive manner for Conrad, though, with a brace of seventh quickest times on the final two stages ensuring he leaves Greece in a strong frame of mind for the forthcoming Rally of Turkey.
The quick quote…
"What an event! The Acropolis certainly lived up to its reputation. I feel stronger coming out of the rally – and really ready for Turkey in 10 days."
Conrad's full story…
"The middle section of the Aghia Sotira stage was so rough it was unbelievable. It was a section of about four kilometers and the rocks were big and razor sharp in places, David and I just picked our way through there, you have to be really careful.
At the same time,though, you need to keep the pace up to ensure you maintain a rhythm in the car. Second time through this stage I really felt that came to me. I was pleased to end the day like this, the car was running well and everything was working.
"The message from here is positive again. This was never going to be an easy event to come here for the first time in a World Rally Car, but I've got through it and enjoyed it. Okay, I haven't felt great – and today I really was feeling quite tired at some points – but this is one of the classic rallies in the championship.
Coming from Africa, I have a bit of an affinity with the rougher stages, so to be guiding the car which won last year's World Rally Championship through these kind of stages was pretty awesome for me. And I learned a lot – an awful lot. I want to get to Turkey and get going straight away again.
"The puncture was annoying. We came through a fast corner and there was a really big rock right in the middle of the road. It was a really narrow section of stage, so there was nothing to do to avoid it.
The narrow road also meant there was nowhere for me to easily pull over and change the front-right tyre. Punctures are part and parcel of a rally like this, but on the whole, I think Pirelli had done a great job with the tyre.
"Like I said, it's Turkey now – which is likely to mean some more hot and rough roads. I'm looking forward to that, and when I get there, I'm determine to be in tip-top condition and completely well, so I can make the most of the Citroen C4 WRC."
- CR -
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