Red Bull Rallye Team: Aigner rolls his car – drivers unharmed, but won’t restart tomorrow

That’s exactly what the Red Bull Rallye Team wanted to avoid: Rally New Zealand is over for Andreas Aigner (AUT)/Klaus Wicha (GER) – Mitsubishi EVO IX after a roll on SS12, hence the Austrian will score no points – a serious setback in the battle for the PWRC title!

Bernardo Sousa (POR)/Jorge Cavalho (POR) – Mitsubishi EVO IX are doing better, they were continuously able to work their way up the order today and are currently running eighth – thus in a points paying position – in the PWRC.

What about the overall PWRC classification? It has been turned completely upside down: After the second leg, Martin Prokop is the new leader ahead of Patrik Sandell, Aigner’s competitors have caught up massively: Jari Ketomaa is already up to sixth, Juho Hänninen is ahead of Sousa in P7. As things stand now, both Finns are going to score vital points.

Andreas Aigner: "I wanted to give it all today, wanted to work my way up with good stage times. It’s really very sad that it had to end this way. Somehow this rally has actually been screwed-up for me from the beginning. Yesterday the two punctures right after the start, today the rollover. I was a tad fast there, to be honest. But when you are that far back, you sometimes just have to take chances."

Bernardo Sousa: "I can be really satisfied with today’s work. Since yesterday’s spin I’ve been wide awake, trying to avoid any mistakes. I’m going to try and keep a similar well-balanced pace tomorrow as well. Then at least a single point should be possible. And this would be more than I expected before the start."

Team boss Raimund Baumschlager: "We have thrown away a great chance today. If you look at how the rally has been playing out, Andreas would surely have been able to score a few points. Now we go away empty handed – unfortunately. I’m happy about Bernardo, who is going at a reasonable pace despite his long break. I hope he’ll stay in the points."

SS8: Port Waikato 17.22 km P06/23

SS9: Possum 13.78 km P05/19

SS10: Franklin 31.58 km P06/20

SS11: Mystery Creek 2 03.14 km P05/19

SS8: Port Waikato 17.22 km P16/36

SS9: Possum 13.78 km P12/29

SS10: Franklin 31.58 km P10/25

SS11: Mystery Creek 2 03.14 km P08/22

SS12: Te Akau South 31.92 km P11/28

SS13: Te Akau North 32.36 km P10/27

The rally will be concluded tomorrow, Sunday, at 9.23 a.m. local time, with another five special stages.

P1 Martin Prokop (CZE) Mitsubishi EVO IX 3:07:17.80 hours

P2 Patrik Sandell (SWE) Mitsubishi EVO IX + 1:18.80 minutes

P3 Martin Rauam (EST) Mitsubishi EVO IX + 1:33.50 minutes

. . . . .

P7 Juho Hänninen (FIN) Mitsubishi EVO IX + 3:41.09 minutes

P8 Bernardo SOUSA (POR) Mitsubishi EVO IX + 6:29.50 minutes

www.redbullrallye.com

- Thomas Blazek, Christian Kuda - also photo