Brazil WRT Acropolis Rally Event Summary

Oliveira lost his chances to conquer the Acropolis early in the morning

The Brazilian driver retired just as he started the final day of the Rally of Greece

Daniel Oliviera and Carlos Magalhaes first challenge in the highly demanding Acropolis Rally of Greece didn’t finish as they wished it would, after facing their retirement in the opening stage of the final day of competition of the seventh round of FIA World Rally Championship.

After the tremendous effort made yesterday to complete the leg, the BWRT crew members started their Sunday of action with the single aim of finishing the toughest test for the South American squad so far.

The final day of action featured five stages scattered the continental Greece, in the outskirts of Athens, with two pass through the classic Aghii Theodori and the New Pissia stages before heading back to the base of the event in Loutraki were the Power Stage took place.

It was their first run through Aghii Theodori and Oliveira started the day with the aim of completing every stage; however, he had to give up his chances of finishing the rally. Somewhere halfway the stage Daniel hit something that broke the radiator of his MINI John Cooper Works WRC and was forced to drop out of the race.

Daniel Oliveira and Carlos Magalhaes

Photo by: Brazil World Rally Team

Despite this incident, the general outcome was positive for the crew. It was a three-day competition of on-going learning for Oliveira and Magalhaes who show great determination to overcome difficult situations. They were also able to come up with some good splits so long as the situation was favourable.

Daniel’s word. “All we have done here in Greece was positive in every sense of it. It has been an enriching experience that enabled me to gain the most kilometres considering all the rallies we have tackled so far this season. In this rally I have learned some things on board the car that will help me to cope with some situations we will surely have to face in the events to come. Now it’s time to think about Finland, one of the most highly rated events in the WRC’s calendar where I hope to improve the job we did here”.

Ogier took the victory. Sebastien Ogier (Citroen) clinched his third victory of the season. The Frenchman beat his team-mate and countryman Sebastien Loeb (Citroen) by 10.5 seconds while the Finnish Mikko Hirvonen (Ford) came in third position 13.5 seconds adrift. The first three positions in the standings haven’t changed after this result, although, Loeb widened the gap of 17 points over Hivonen while Ogier stretched the difference with the Finnish by five units.

Summer’s break. After disputing seven rounds so far, the WRC will take a short break before going into the second half of the season. The action will continue in a month with one of the most famous rallies in the world, the Rally of Finland which will take place from July 28th to 30th.

-source: brazil wrt