Peugeot drivers Marcus Gronholm and Richard Burns are currently at the top of the WRC championship table, but team-mate Harri Rovanpera has had his “worst start to a season” in 2003.
Peugeot drivers Marcus Gronholm and Richard Burns are currently at the top of the WRC championship table, but team-mate Harri Rovanpera has had his “worst start to a season” in 2003.
Rovanpera’s contract is up at the end of the season and the Finn hopes to kick-start his title campaign in Argentina next month. The Peugeot 206 driver has yet to make it past the second day of a rally this year after retiring from the Swedish, Turkish and New Zealand Rallies.
“This is my worst start to a season,” Rovanpera said on Monday. “It’s been terrible. All I can do is clear my mind and start again from zero in Argentina. In Argentina I want some points. I have had a lot of problems there in the past with engines, but this is a good rally in a nice country with very friendly people.
“I am a little more happy about the next rounds after that, winning in Greece or Cyprus – I think this is a little bit more likely.”
Rovanpera retired while leading the Rally of Turkey at the start of March, but was probably more upset when he crashed during last weekend’s Rally New Zealand while battling with Burns for third.
“I’m bitterly disappointed,” he said the accident. “I was pushing and it was my mistake. I feel very sorry for the whole team.”
