“My first rally was in 2000 back in Portugal. It was the Rally Montelongo/Cidade de Fafe and I was driving a Renault Clio 16v, I loved that car. My friend Pedro Queiros was my co-driver and I remember he was really nervous because he’s been racing bikes but this was his first time in a rally car. But we still managed to finish the rally, and we actually finished in second place overall so he must have been a natural!

“On the other hand, I couldn’t wait to get started. I didn’t even feel nervous. After we finished second, I just knew that this was the start of something very good. I couldn’t believe how competitive our times were on the stages and after we finished, all I could think about was getting back in the car for the next rally.

“If I had been told that I’d be driving for the MINI works team in 2012, I don’t think I would have believed it. I’ve always loved MINI though and it just feels like I’ve had the most incredible journey to get to where I am today. I feel very lucky.”