After the first day of Acropolis Rally Petter is fourth overall. Mikko Hirvonen is leading the rally and Dani Sordo is second. Sebastien Loeb is third, 20 seconds ahead of Petter.

"I’m quite happy with the day, actually. The car is good and it seems like the improvements we have done is working. Fourth today means a good road position for tomorrow, and I’m going for the podium!"

Petter started the day flat out, and was third fastest on the first stage. He was going fast on the second stage, too, until a bolt fell off the right front suspension. With the wheel bouncing around, Petter lost almost 40 seconds on the stage.

Fixing the car at remote service was a bit of a challenge. The team only has 15 minutes available and only four mechanics can work on the car, together with the driver and the codriver. You are only allowed to use the parts carried in the rally car, but luckily Petter did bring a bolt that could replace the lost one.

Petter was second, when the front left top mount suddenly burst out through the bonnet on SS11.

After a closer look on the car in the servicepark and discussions with the team, Petter decided to retire from the rally in order to be best prepared for the Polish Rally in only two weeks.

- The car is fixed enough so that I could have started, but I have only one car and if something should happen tomorrow I would be in trouble for Poland. We have worked hard over the week and we never give up, but at the same time we need to keep a close eye to our budget.

- I was going flat out on a straight when suddenly we heard “boom” and the top mount came out through the bonnet. On the road section we managed to get it together with an adjustable spanner. We got through stage SS11 and SS12 with it, but lost a lot of time.

The Acropolis Rally of Greece started Friday and Petter was fourth after day 1. When three stages were completed on day 2, he was second overall.

"I’m actually quite happy with the weekend. It was really good fun being out there and fighting for good times, with a competitive car. We were on a good pace, and I would not have been easy for Hirvonen to keep us behind. It is good to know that our improvements worked out. Now I’m only looking ahead to Poland."

The Acropolis Rally of Greece ends Sunday. Next event is Rally Poland, 25 - 28 June.

Overall classification Acropolis Rally of Greece 2009

1. Mikko Hirvonen, Ford
2. Sebastien Ogier, Citroen +1.12,9
3. Jari Matti Latvala, Ford +1.45,0
4. Federico Villagra, Ford +3.48,3
5. Rautenbach, Citroen +3.59,8
6. Al Qassimi, Ford +7.04,3
7. Mads Østberg, Subaru +12.24,9
8. Athanassoulas, Skoda +12.47,6