However, Fourmaux competed in the WRC round amid personal grief. A close friend of his had passed away just before the rally weekend.
“There was a funeral of my friend on Friday, so it’s good to have a podium for him. He was in the car with us and he is following us,” Fourmaux said.
Fourmaux’s friend was motorsport figure Jean-Pierre Minebois, who had also supported Fourmaux’s career. At the Greek WRC round, Minebois’s name was inscribed on the French driver’s Hyundai rally car.
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The third-place finish brought great relief for Fourmaux, whose recent rallies had not gone well. The French star had opened his Hyundai career with a podium in the Rally Monte Carlo and finally made it back to the top three.
In Greece, Fourmaux damaged his car at one point, but he managed to continue without retiring. Eventually, he made it to the podium to spray the champagne.
“I’m really pleased that this is the stop of the superrally cycle we had a bit with Portugal and Sardinia. So it’s good to get a good result. We had some pressure from the team to deliver here, which we did. It was positive,” Fourmaux said.
“I’m pleased we managed to the podium. It was important for us and for the team. And I’m pleased for Ott (Tänak) to get the victory.”
As the season turns to its second half, Fourmaux sits seventh in the WRC drivers’ standings.
