Hänninen wary of local challenge

Factory Škoda Motorsport driver Juho Hänninen believes Argentina’s leading runners will offer a strong threat when the Intercontinental Rally Challenge resumes in the country this week.

Hänninen, who heads fellow Fabia Super 2000 driver Guy Wilks in the IRC points, said he will find it hard to repeat the podium finish he scored in Brazil last time out.

“I like this rally a lot but it won’t be easy because the local Group N drivers will be very strong,” said the Finnish driver. “We will be fit and ready but the sandy stages won’t be so good for our car because we don’t have the torque that the Group N turbos do. As a result, you need to be smooth with your driving style to keep up the speed otherwise you can lose a lot of time.

“There is always a fantastic atmosphere on this rally with all the fans so I can’t wait and it will be interesting to see what Nasser Al-Attiyah can do in his Škoda. I think he can be very strong.”