Hanninen braced for tough Madeira debut

29th July 2010

By Charlie Contadeli

Juho Hanninen has dismissed his chances of adding a third victory to his tally in this year’s Intercontinental Rally Challenge when the series resumes in Madeira next week.

The factory Skoda driver heads team-mate Jan Kopecky in the standings by nine points but has never competed on the island event before.

He said: “I have been improving on Tarmac, no question, but I am told there are lots and lots of blind corners and that it is also hard to find the rhythm and to make a good set of pacenotes. It won’t be easy, I will try, but I think a podium will be difficult. If I drive really well then I think fifth or sixth will be possible.”

Skoda prepared for the event with a test in Spain last week, during which Hanninen completed one and a half days of running. Before Madeira, Hanninen will tackle Rally Finland in a Raimund Baumschlager-run Fabia S2000.