Acropolis : Mitsubishi / P-WRC - FinishAndreas Aigner guided his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX home to second position in the Production Car World Rally Championship after a stunning run back through the field, after suffering a punctured tire earlier in the event.
Aigner,
who led the rally on the opening leg, before dropping back when he was forced to stop and change the deflated front-right tire on his Mitsubishi. At the end of the Agia Sotira test on Friday afternoon, Aigner was languishing in eighth position. Over the next two days, however, he turned in numerous fastest times to blast his way back through the field in one of the most incredible comeback drives, eventually placing his Lancer Evolution in second position.
"It has been a very tough rally," he admitted at the finish. "Everything was looking so good for us while we were in the front, but then it turned badly."
"It did the same for many of the drivers. My fellow Mitsubishi drivers, Mark Higgins and Juho Hanninen could have won this rally in the same way that I could have won this rally, had we not had punctures. It's frustrating, but at the same time, I'm happy that I have some good points from this event."
Once again, the crews on this Athens-based event faced exceptionally tough conditions.
Despite the earlier start, with leading crews leaving the service park at the Olympic Equestrian Centre south of the city centre at just after six o'clock this morning, the sun was soon beating down on the hard, dry and rough roads. The second stage of the day, Assopia, was among the twistiest and most technically demanding of the whole rally. There would be no let-up for the world's fastest Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution drivers until the end of the final superspecial stage, Hippodrome.
The morning provided more evidence of the pace of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, with fastest times on both of the stages. Martin Rauam was at the front of the Production Car WRC pace for the first time in his car on SS18, while Mark Higgins was quickest on the next test.
Unfortunately, SS18 wasn't so kind to Hanninen. Having led early on and then held a comfortable second place, Hanninen suffered a puncture on the day's opening stage. A rock, probably the same one which had caused the punctured tire, had also damaged the steering on his Lancer. He tried to change the wheel and fix the steering, but he was unable to complete the job, forcing him into retirement.
Higgins backed up Aigner's presence in the leading positions with fourth.
"What a day!" said Higgins. "Once again, it was really warm in the car, but this car has dealt with everything we have thrown at it again. It's been phenomenally reliable and quick. I realize we could have won this event, but we dropped so much time earlier in the rally. This is a good result and we've taken some big points home with us."
Gabriel Pozzo and Simone Campedelli also took Production Car WRC points in their Lancer Evolution IXs, finishing seventh and eighth respectively.
Ahead of the Group N Lancer Evolutions, Estonian driver Urmo Aava continued to level his learning curve aboard the Mitsubishi Lancer WRC05. Aava (Estonia) emphasized that his sole aim on this rally was to gain more experience of the car ahead of his next World Rally Championship outing on the Rally Finland. Despite his measured approach, Aava still moved up to 14th overall.
"It's been a good rally for me," said Aava. "Okay, it's been tough, getting to know a World Rally Car when all I have known is the Junior car, but we have made it through. Now I have more of an idea about what driving these cars is about. It's a fantastic car and the team have been very, very good. I'm looking forward to me next outing in the car in Estonia."
Mitsubishi
