Araujo suffers early Portugal blow

Double Production Car World Rally champion Araujo is contesting his home WRC round in a Super 2000 version of the Mini John Cooper Works, but the engine in the car is largely the same as the World Rally Car version which makes its debut in Italy in May.

Araujo was forced to change the 1.6-litre motor after it suffered a technical problem early in his test.

"We were trying to find the ideal set-up for the car," said Araujo, "but we had to stop early, as we had a problem with the engine. The team is trying to find the problem but we have a spare engine for the rally, which is better than we tested last week.

"There was nothing to prove on the test - we were just trying to find the feeling with the car and cover as many kilometres as possible. I know we won't be able to fight with the World Rally Cars and we have nothing to prove, so we just want to see how the car is."

Araujo's will not be the only Mini present in Portugal. Daniel Oliveira is also driving a John Cooper Works S2000 on the Faro-based event which starts tomorrow.

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Araujo suffers early Portugal blow

Portugal's hopes of a dream result for local hero Armindo Araujo took a hit earlier this week, when the Mini driver had to change his engine ahead of this week's Rally of Portugal