Oliveira happy with progress in Brazil

Daniel Oliveira believes his run to sixth place on the first leg of Rally Internacional de Curitiba is proof of how much he is learning during his first season in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.

The 24-year-old from Brazil had never driven his Stohl Racing-run Peugeot 207 on gravel before Thursday’s shakedown. But he is now on course to claim three IRC drivers’ points on only his second appearance in the series.

“I’m happy because I am here at the finish of the first day but also I am happy because I have learned a lot today,” said Oliveira. “I made some small mistakes and there are things I need to improve, particularly my pacenotes, but everything is okay and the car is good.”