Chinese GP || April 21 || 15h00 (Local time)

Hänninen wins rally and praises team

"It’s been a good weekend and thanks to the team"

By

16 July 2011 - 19:21

Juho Hänninen paid tribute to the factory ŠKODA Motorsport team after winning Sata Rallye Açores, round six of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.

The defending IRC champion, began the final loop of two stages with a lead of 10.9s over Andreas Mikkelsen and was able to cruise to his eighth IRC victory when Mikkelsen elected to settle for second in his ŠKODA UK entry.

“It’s been a good weekend and thanks to the team,” said Finn Hänninen, who was co-driven by countryman Mikko Markkula. “We had three ŠKODAs on the podium so that’s a great result. We had a good fight with Andreas, especially yesterday and this victory feels very good.”

Hänninen’s victory means he moves back into the lead of the IRC drivers’ standings.

Overall positions after SS17

Pos.	Driver	Car	Time
1	Hänninen Juho / Markkula Mikko	Škoda Fabia S2000	2h19m03.8s
2	Mikkelsen Andreas / Floene Ola	Škoda Fabia S2000	+42.3s
3	Kopecký Jan / Starý Petr	Škoda Fabia S2000	+1m46.0s
4	Bouffier Bryan / Panseri Xavier	Peugeot 207 S2000	+3m36.2s
5	Sandell Patrik / Parmander Staffan	Škoda Fabia S2000	+4m33.3s
6	Moura Ricardo / Eiró Sancho	Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX	+6m07.0s
7	Lopes Vítor / Magalhăes Hugo	Subaru Impreza Sti	+9m52.1s
8	Pascoal Vítor / Ramalho Luis	Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X	+12m47.3s
9	Silva Sérgio / Cordeiro Nelson	Subaru Impreza Sti	+14m00.3s
10	Maciel Paulo / Gouveira Filipe	Citroën Saxo VTS	+18m10.7s
11	Nutahara Fumio / Ichino Hakaru	Subaru Impreza R4	+18m10.8s
12	Raoux Jean-Michel / Mazotti Francis	Renault Clio R3	+19m44.4s
13	Costa Carlos / Nunes Fernando	Citroën C2 R2	+23m32.8s
14	Paula José / Ribeiro Miguel	Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX	+32m55.0s
15	Mota Tiago / Pimentel José	Citroën Saxo VTS	+335m59.8s