Patrik Sandell secured a fighting fourth-place finish in the Super 2000 World Rally Championship classification at the Rally New Zealand despite a spin on the last stage of the event.
The result means that the Swede maintains fifth in the drivers' standings, having set three fastest stage times in New Zealand. Meanwhile, Nasser Al-Attiyah finished one spot behind in fifth after also suffering a spin on the final stage.
Having been unable to test prior to the event, Sandell’s team made changes to the set-up of the BRR Skoda which gradually increased his speed. However, the 28-year-old and his co-driver Emil Axelsson were unable to fully recover from the early setback of being hit by a large bird, which damaged the car’s windscreen.
'From Saturday it was feeling really good so we tried to push more and more' – Patrik Sandell
“On the first day I had a problem to get into the right rhythm or the right speed," said Sandell. "We felt good on some corners but we didn't find the right timing in the driving or the perfect set-up. From Saturday it was feeling really good so we tried to push more and more and we passed Nasser Al-Attiyah in a similar car. We tried to catch Martin Prokop as well and took a lot of time out of him this morning but on the long stage the first time this morning he had an incredible time; 20 seconds faster than everybody else.
“In the end there was not so much to do but try to keep the fourth place and get to the finish of the rally. Okay it's some more points but we need to get some podiums as well."
After being passed by the Swede, Al-Attiyah managed to hold on to fifth. However, like Sandell, the Qatari driver was left to rue an earlier mistake. Having dropped time when he overshot a junction on the Te Akau Coast stage on Saturday morning after leaving his braking too late.
Al-Attiyah also admitted that his team’s lack of spare parts meant he couldn’t push as he would have liked in case he damaged his car.
Next up for Sandell is Rally Finland in July, and having competed in the race four times previously, he’s confident he’ll be ready.
"It's always good to have time in the car to find the brake points and the small, small details," he added. "It's important to be in the car all the time and we need to look to everything now. Our next rally is Finland and we will be very prepared for that one..."
For the latest news on S-WRC, head to Red Bull Rally, or wrc.com.
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