18 Feb 11
Dennis Kuipers has described a feeling of satisfaction after landing the new FERM Power Tools World Rally Team a share of the manufacturers' championship points in Sweden last weekend.
Kuipers, at the wheel of a Ford Fiesta RS WRC, finished 13th overall on the snow-based world championship season-opener and earned FERM four makes’ points in the process as the eighth-best eligible finisher.
The Dutchman, co-driven by Belgian Frederic Miclotte, started the event with scant experience of his new car having only managed a 75-kilometre test prior to the rally getting underway on 10 February.
“I am very satisfied with how the rally went,” said Kuipers. “It is great that we have been able to score points in the manufacturers’ championship and I have gained very valuable experience with the new car. I can only say that my mission was successful and I am looking forward to the next WRC round in Mexico.”
Sweden proved a largely trouble-free event for Kuipers, save for a turbo boost problem that hampered his progress on Friday morning. After completing the first day on 17th overall, Kuipers climbed up to 13th by the finish in Karlstad on Sunday evening.
“This was only my second rally in Sweden and, as a Dutchman, I can never outweigh the driving experience on snow and ice from many of my Scandinavian colleagues,” said Kuipers.
Next stop on the 25-year-old Kuipers’ 11-event world championship schedule is Rally Guanajuato Mexico, which runs from 3-6 March.
Credit: World Rally Championship (www.wrc.com)
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