26.04.08
Day two
Stages: 8
Weather: Sunny
Temperature range: 20-35 Celsius
Time difference: Jordan is GMT +3hours
Sporting:
Conrad Rautenbach started the second day of Jordan Rally competition in 26th
position. His 10-minute penalty for not completing day one, following a
clutch problem in SS8, cost 17 places on the leaderboard.
Rautenbach and his British co-driver David Senior were, however, making good
progress back up the order. On the way to the third stage of the day, Shuna,
Rautenbach was involved in a road accident with Sebastien Loeb’s Citroen C4
WRC. Loeb had finished the stage and was on his way to SS12. Rautenbach was
heading into the test. The low-speed accident happened on a narrow section
of the liaison route.
Both cars retired after the impact, but will re-start for tomorrow’s final
leg.
Technical:
Rautenbach’s Citroen C4 WRC suffered a fault with the handbrake and was
running without launch control.
Conrad Rautenbach quote:
“I’m really sorry for Sebastien [Loeb] and for Citroen, both of whom are
fighting to win this event and the championship. Sebastien had pushed really
hard to get into a good position and to build a good lead. It’s really
unfortunate. I’m pretty fed-up myself – I’m out of day two as well. It was
an accident, nobody’s fault.”