Oliveira endures 'hardest rally'
Mini driver Daniel Oliveira has endured the toughest morning of his rally career after the powersteering failed on his John Cooper Works WRC early on today's leg
The Brazilian hit trouble on the morning's opening stage, but he battled through the remainder of Klenia Mycenae and the next two tests before returning the car to Loutraki for service.
"This is the hardest rally I'd ever done anyway," said Oliveira, "but without the powersteering it really was the hardest thing I've done. I feel completely destroyed now, but I'm here and we can get the car fixed and go out again this afternoon."
Brazil World Rally Team team manager Paul Howarth added: "Fair play to Daniel, he's demonstrated that he's got some grit and determination this morning. It's really not easy to drive a car in competition without powersteering - especially in the really quick sections, where, if the car gets away from you, you know you're going to struggle to get it back.
"Fortunately, the Mini is very well balanced car, but still he's done a great job to get the car here, especially given the really hot conditions we're running in today."
Oliveira retired from yesterday's opening leg with an electrical problem and the 10 minutes he dropped this morning have pushed him further down the order. He will return to the stages 23rd overall.
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