Ostberg bounces back to stay in fourth spot

Abu Dhabi/Salou-Spain: Citroen Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team driver Mads Ostberg struggled with rhythm in the opening stages to slip to fifth position, then recovered to climb up to fourth on the third day of the Rally of Spain, the penultimate round of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC).

However, he was not too happy after the restart on SS11, adding: “We are trusting the tyres more now, but the last section is unbelievably bad. There was lots of gravel everywhere and we had to slow down.”

On completing SS10 just before the service break, Ostberg said: “This was much better. No tactics — just driving and trying to enjoy it.” And on SS11 the Citroen Total Abu Dhabi WRT driver said: “It was better than the first time for sure, but in some places I’m struggling with confidence in some places. It’s a pace note thing in the long corners I think.”

Ostberg’s teammate, Kris Meeke, returned to the competition under Rally 2 regulations after retiring the previous day following two punctures to show a very good rhythm on the stages especially on the 2nd loop.

Meeke, who hit a stone on SS9, the 50km stage set up to mark the 50th anniversary of Rally Spain, said: “It was on the very first corner. We put a wheel about 12 inches off the road — normally you can put a wheel off there but there was a stone we hadn’t seen.”

Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi Racing’s junior driver, Mohammad Al Mutawaa, behind the wheel of a Citroen DS3 R3 in the WRC3 category retired for the day on the last section of SS9. He said: “I was driving a bit too fast into a corner; I slid out of the road and hit a barrier. I will be back tomorrow under Rally 2 regulations.”