Citroen privateer
Conrad Rautenbach is aiming for points again this coming weekend in Jordan.
Rautenbach re-wrote the record books in Argentina last month by becoming the first Zimbabwean to ever score 'senior' points in the World Rally Championship, and while he concedes that is now history, there is no doubt it has done his confidence the world of good.
Indeed he can't wait to get out again in his PH Sport-run C4 WRC car and see how things go on the fifth round in the series.
Furthermore while the high temperatures might worry some of his European rivals he is well prepared and not concerned.
"I've been really busy since finishing fourth in Argentina. I've been in the gym every day and also in the sauna - trying to get myself prepared for the heat which is coming our way in Jordan. I'm quite lucky in the way that I deal with the heat; I don't seem to suffer too much. Coming from Africa, I've competed in hot conditions for quite a while, which has probably got something to do with it," explained the 23-year-old.
"It took a little while for things to calm down after Argentina. Thinking back to it, it still seems a bit crazy. I wasn't too sure what to expect from the event or the country, but by the time I left Buenos Aires, I was a big fan of both.
"When I got to Buenos Aires to take the return flight back to Europe, I was told my flight was delayed by a day. I was actually quite pleased to have another day in such a great place. I was even happier when an old school friend of mine got in touch after she'd seen me on facebook. I hadn't seen her since junior school, 12 years earlier - so we hooked up on my extra day. A surreal end to what had been a fairly surreal week.
"Since being back in Europe, I've been counting the days to Jordan. Every minute I spend in the Citroen C4 WRC, I enjoy it more and more. And I have more confidence in the car and more understanding of what it takes to drive this car on the limit.
