Oliveira to continue improving in Australia

Daniel Oliveira’s co-driver Carlos Magalhaes has backed the young Brazilian to continue making progress in the World Rally Championship.

Oliveira is embarking on his first season in the global series at the wheel of a Brazil World Rally Team MINI John Cooper Works WRC. He is competing in Australia for the first time this week as he bids to land his first drivers’ championship points of the year.

“Daniel is improving all of the time,” said Magalhaes. “He still needs to have knowledge of the stages but this is coming and he continues to work for the result. Here we will try to keep on the road and get to the finish but it won’t be easy. The stages are very fast and very slippery.”

Oliveira is the sole MINI driver competing in Australia after the factory MINI WRC Team elected not to include the New South Wales event on its schedule of rallies.

“It’s a new car and even for the guys with a lot of experience that can be hard,” said Magalhaes. “Daniel does not have the experience but he is enjoying it and doing very well.”

Oliveira, 26, will be the first driver over the ceremonial start ramp at 17:35hrs local time. He will run 18th on the road for this evening’s brace of superspecial stages in Coffs Harbour.