Rallye de Portugal, Patrik Sandell is lurking! |
Despite the two consecutive wins that opened the season the Red Bull Rally Team is not the top favourite: This time Patrik Sandell/Emil Axelsson (SWE) – Skoda Fabia S2000 – are rather lying in wait!
The favourites are the local heroes: First and foremost Mitsubishi driver Armindo Araujo, who recently had a very strong and very consistent performance in Cyprus. The Portuguese champion Carlos Magalhaes, who will be driving a Peugeot 207 S2000 as a wild card entry, is also not to be forgotten. Both of course know literally every stone on this rally.
Team boss Raimund Baumschlager: “We had a dream start this year with two wins. That’s why in Portugal we’ll also incorporate strategic considerations into our objectives for the first time. Of course we want to win again, we won’t throw anything away – but if we were to realise that P1 can only be achieved by taking increased risk, we will concentrate on scoring solid points instead of risking an accident. Previous years have shown that in the hunt for the title winning alone isn’t enough – retire once, and everything’s open again.”
The stage characteristics in Portugal are similar to Cyprus – just a little bit faster. And: Experience has shown that weather conditions can change swiftly and that drivers will therefore be faced with very difficult conditions. The magnificent landscape of the Algarve, right on the seafront, serves as a backdrop. A total of 18 special stages over an overall length of more than 360 kilometres are scheduled. The rally will get under way on Thursday with a super special, just over two kilometres in length, at the Algarve Stadium, resuming on Friday and Saturday with six stages each, before concluding on Sunday with another five special stages.
Judging from last year, the S2000 cars – including Patrik Sandell’s Red Bull Skoda Fabia – should enjoy a slight advantage, especially on Friday.
Patrik Sandell: “Portugal is just around the corner, and it’s one of my favourite rallies because the stages are much faster than in Cyprus last time out – that’s exactly what I like the most. I go there to win again but won’t pursue this goal at full tilt. Should a situation arise where second place would be much easier to get, I’d be satisfied with these eight points as well. Raimund is right, though – this time the local heroes are the favourites. But please let’s not forget about my compatriot Patrik Flodin.”
29 March 2009
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