2007 FIA African Rally champion eyes another top eight finish.
Citroen privateer Conrad Rautenbach is aiming for points again this coming weekend in Jordan.
Rautenbach re-wrote the record books in Argentina last month by becoming the first Zimbabwean to ever score 'senior' points in the World Rally Championship, and while he concedes that is now history, there is no doubt it has done his confidence the world of good.
Indeed he can't wait to get out again in his PH Sport-run C4 WRC car and see how things go on the fourth round in the series.
Furthermore while the high temperatures might worry some of his European rivals he is well prepared and not concerned.
"I've been really busy since finishing fourth in Argentina. I've been in the gym every day and also in the sauna - trying to get myself prepared for the heat which is coming our way in Jordan. I'm quite lucky in the way that I deal with the heat; I don't seem to suffer too much. Coming from Africa, I've competed in hot conditions for quite a while, which has probably got something to do with it," explained the 23-year-old.
"It took a little while for things to calm down after Argentina. Thinking back to it, it still seems a bit crazy. I wasn't too sure what to expect from the event or the country, but by the time I left Buenos Aires, I was a big fan of both.
"When I got to Buenos Aires to take the return flight back to Europe, I was told my flight was delayed by a day. I was actually quite pleased to have another day in such a great place. I was even happier when an old school friend of mine got in touch after she'd seen me on facebook. I hadn't seen her since junior school, 12 years earlier - so we hooked up on my extra day. A surreal end to what had been a fairly surreal week.
"Since being back in Europe, I've been counting the days to Jordan. Every minute I spend in the Citroen C4 WRC, I enjoy it more and more. And I have more confidence in the car and more understanding of what it takes to drive this car on the limit.
"It's so different to the Xsara WRC was I was driving before. Looking back at events like Rally Great Britain last year, it's quite clear to me that I was trying to force my driving and force the pace. You just can't do that with these cars.
"Sure, the C4 is an easier car to drive than the Xsara, but the biggest lesson I learned in Argentina was that to drive faster, you have to learn to drive slower. Of course, that's not in the literal sense, but you have to relax about everything in the car; trying to force anything with these things is sure-fire way to disaster.
"I still have lots to learn about the C4, which is why I'm so excited about Jordan. The best way to learn is in constant conditions with predictable levels of grip. That's what we should have in Jordan - although I do remember people telling me they were sure the sun would shine in Argentina!
"Running in much warmer weather will also get the tyres working much at their optimum performance. Better weather should also mean much closer competition; I would be very surprised if we see anything like the crazy time differences after the first stage this time around.
"My aim is to get into the points again. I'm eighth in the championship right now and to be starting the rally up around the leading drivers is fantastic - it's where I want to stay. Argentina was a fantastic achievement.
"To receive the Abu Dhabi Spirit of the Rally Award was awesome recognition not just for David [Senior - my co-driver] and myself, but the whole team behind us. But Argentina's done now. It's history and I have to build on that achievement, starting with Jordan."
