Rautenbach receives the ‘Abu Dhabi Spirit of the Rally’ trophy

The Abu Dhabi Spirit of the Rally trophy of the Rally Argentina 2008 was awarded to Conrad Rautenbach and his co-driver David Senior.

Rautenbach and Senior placed their Citroën C4 WRC in fourth place, their best result in the FIA World Rally Championship, in one of the season’s toughest events.

The 23-year-old African Rally Champion becomes, on this occasion, the first Zimbabwean driver to score points in the World Championship.

The Abu Dhabi Spirit of the Rally trophy rewards an individual who demonstrates the values upheld by Abu Dhabi: respect, teamwork, integrity, and innovation. It is awarded to those who show these values and make a positive contribution to the rally they participate in. The winner is chosen by a panel of experts from the WRC community.

During this event, Rautenbach overcame his lack of experience with the car and the challenge to achieve a historic result. Like other competitors, Rautenbach was caught in the fog at the beginning of the event. Avoiding mechanical issues, he gained positions as the kilometers passed. With the help of his co-driver’s experience, he gained confidence to finish fourth.

Receiving the trophy, Conrad Rautenbach declared: « It’s a crazy rally, incredibly difficult. This fourth position is a fantastic result for us and Citroën, which places three C4s in the top four. I couldn’t have made it without David’s experience, his help, and his advice. We set off hoping to score some points, but a fourth place is incredible. This trophy rewards the work of the whole team. I believe we truly deserve it! »

According to a WRC press release