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Kobus could have threatened for ERC podium

Hermen Kobus believes he could have challenged for a maiden FIA European Rally Championship podium in Gran Canaria had he avoided a tree on SS9.

The Dutch driver, navigated by Erik de Wild, was up to fourth place on Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés on Saturday morning when he crashed his ŠKODA Fabia R5 on the second stage of the day.

"One of the notes a fraction came too late," he said. "After a quick right followed by a sharp left. In our notes we give something like that a "Q". That means I have to be careful. This time we came to the Q10 after the fast right, just before the sharp left 3. I had no time to take the left. We went head-on into a tree at 74 km/h.

"Our exit can be explained by the lack of route knowledge, but it is very sour, because this race in Gran Canaria could have been a really nice business card for the rest of the season. I think we could still threaten [Luis] Monzón, who was third."

Kobus added that the significant damage incurred to his Fabia is likely to affect the rest of his programme, preventing him from taking part in Belgian events TAC Rally and the Rally of Wallonia which he was planning to compete on in preparation for his next ERC appearance in Ypres in June.

Zdroj: fiaerc.com