Citroen privateer
Urmo Aava claimed a career best fourth place on the Acropolis Rally of Greece at the weekend after another impressive drive in his PH-Sport-run C4 WRC car.
Following on from his first points' finish of the season in Sardinia two weeks ago, Urmo was in fine form, running in the points for much of the event and setting some strong times.
Indeed despite a puncture on Saturday morning in the opening test, which cost him 3 minutes and dropped him from 5th to 13th, he fought his way back, winning SS12, the 16.60 kilometre Pissia 2 test and eventually taking five championship points, 30 seconds ahead of Citroen works driver Dani Sordo. In total the Estonian won two tests and posted 16 top-ten times from 20.
"I am very happy. We are finally getting to know the car better. Citroen Sport helped us a lot with the set-up and now we have a very good car," he reflected.
"I am looking forward to Turkey in two weeks time which is a similar rally, only slower."
Conrad Rautenbach meanwhile was tenth in the other C4 WRC car run by PH-Sport with support from Citroen Sport Technologies.
Rautenbach wasn't feeling 100 per cent fit during the event, but despite that was satisfied to place his car in the top ten - especially as he had some technical problems and a few punctures.
"What an event! The Acropolis certainly lived up to its reputation. But the message from here is positive again. This was never going to be an easy event to come here for the first time in a World Rally Car, but I've got through it and enjoyed it," he noted.
"Okay, I haven't felt great – and today I really was feeling quite tired at some points – but this is one of the classic rallies in the championship. Coming from Africa, I have a bit of an affinity with the rougher stages, so to be guiding the car which won last year's World Rally Championship through these kind of stages was pretty awesome for me.
