Bryan Bouffier says increased confidence triggered his upturn in form on the second loop of stages on the International Jännerrallye.
Bouffier was 41.8s off the pace in sixth overall after the opening trio of stages this morning but hit back with the quickest time on stages four and six to hold fifth overall, 21.9s adrift of top spot at service in Freistadt this afternoon.
“We have a good set-up and also we did a very good tyre choice,” said Frenchman Bouffier, who is driving a Peugeot 207 Super 2000 for SC Ateneo. “I was confident we could driver faster than this morning when I was very slow, especially on the second stage. I am happy with my time and hopefully I can continue like this but there is still a long way to go. I have to stay on the road now.”
Bouffier is competing with stand-in co-driver Olivier Fournier in Austria due to his regular navigator Xavier Panseri’s clashing commitment with the Africa Race cross-country event.