Bouffier would settle for fourth in Azores

Bryan Bouffier says fourth place on Sata Rallye Açores is the best result he can hope for on the Intercontinental Rally Challenge event.

The Peugeot France star is more than one minute in front of fifth-placed Patrik Sandell with two stages left to run.

“I am realistic because for sure it’s not possible to be as quick as the guys in front of me on my first time here,” said the Rallye Monte-Carlo winner. “I have to keep my concentration because there is still a long way to go and while I can’t be happy with fourth I can’t really complain.”

Bouffier, who is running first on the road on the final day of the gravel rally, explained how difficult the conditions had been this morning, particularly on the fog-hit first stage of the day.

“It was really difficult in the fog and it’s very hard to drive,” said Bouffier. “Okay I tried to drive well but it’s very difficult even though the car was working very well. It’s hard to feel where the road is when it’s foggy and in some parts where it is fast and you don’t really know the road then it’s not easy. On the second stage the beginning was foggy, then raining and at the end the sun was shining so we had all the seasons in one stage.”