Nobre banks on local support for WRC boost

Paulo Nobre hopes competing close to home on Philips Rally Argentina this week will give him the confidence boost he needs following a tough run in the FIA World Rally Championship powered by Nokia.

The Brazilian has endured a spate of accidents on recent rallies and failed to start in Portugal following a crash in shakedown in his WRC Team MINI Portugal John Cooper Works WRC.

He said: “Like all drivers I am a human being and, to be really honest, after accidents every day in Mexico and failing even to start Rally de Portugal, my mojo’s a bit dented heading into Argentina. This is a pity because Argentina is one of the most difficult and challenging rallies of the season with very tough special stages. The event is also very well organised and one of the rallies with the largest number of fans waiting for us on the stages as we come through.”

Nobre, who is co-driven by countryman Edu Paula, made his world championship debut in Argentina back in 2006 and is a big fan of the stages around Villa Carlos Paz and his neighbouring country in general.

“It’s amazing to drive a rally in Argentina, even for a Brazilian! There isn’t the same rivalry between Argentines and Brazilians in rallying as there is in soccer, so all the spectators here are always very welcoming and kind to us. I have many friends from Argentinian rallying and I respect them all, because they are very good at the sport. If Brazil is the country of soccer, for me Argentina is the country of rally.”