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Nicolas Vouilloz wins the 43rd “Rallye d’Antibes Côte d’Azur”
All the competitors have finished the rally. It’s time to make an assessment of these three intense days of race. In spite of the repeated attacks of his opponents, Nicolas Vouilloz has dominated this rally from the beginning to the end. At 20 seconds, we find the talented Stéphane Sarrazin who realizes a very good race. He’s followed by the Polish Michal Solowow who concluded magnificently by offering the second place of the European Rally Championship to his team.
The crews engaged on this last race of the season have offered a show rich in emotions. If the beauty of the course was the first remark of the crews, is difficulty has got the better of many of them leaving the field free to boldest for the most reckless. The performance of Nicolas Vouilloz had marked the spirits like the race of Stéphane Sarrazin which carries out a true performance after one year without competing rallies.
We shouldn’t forget the remarkable performance of Michal Solowow which realize, without any doubt, is more beautiful race of the season. He completes this podium hundred percent Peugeot. In the third place of the prestigious European Rally Championship 2008, we find the Turkish Volkan Isik. In fifth position, the Belgian Dominique Bruyneel is satisfied to be in the top 5 with his Subaru Impreza.
For Corrado Fontana, the weekend has been difficult with the 207 S2000 which did not satisfy the Italian. He operates, all the same, a beautiful ascent after his problems during the first day.
Antonin Tlustak wins his category on board of the Citroën C2 S1600. He has done a perfect race.
On the National Rally, Xavier Quinsac stops the race in the antepenultimate sector cause of a mechanical problem while Philippe Catudal and his Peugeot 306 Maxi recover the first place. More than height minutes after, Fabien Deplanche and Williams Priori complete the podium.
They have said…
Nicolas Vouilloz (Peugeot 207 S2000): “I am very happy to win at home. The car was very powerful on this last loop. I concentrate now on the next rally in Switzerland because we have an important race there for the Intercontinental Rally Championship”
Stéphane Sarrazin (Peugeot 207 S2000): “We have tried a lot of things on the car today but it wasn’t good. Of course, I am very happy of this result. It’s very positive for me because I haven’t do races since one year and I was in good position during the race.”
Michal Solowow (Peugeot 207 S2000): “I am very satisfied of this result even if I haven’t been able to do the times of Nicolas and Stéphane. I am, however, happy to finish in good position in the European Championship and I have taken a lot of pleasure by driving the car on these fabulous roads.”
Corrado Fontana (Peugeot 207 S2000): “I had many problems with the car this weekend and I was far from the times that I realized with the Punto last year on the same route… This rally was really difficult for me.”
Antonin Tlustak (Citroën C2 S1600): “It’s fantastic! I am so happy to win the category. I have taken a lot of pleasure in the Citroën C2 this week-end.”
Philippe Catudal (Peugeot 306 Maxi): “This victory is a little bit unexpected although we were in fight with Xavier throughout the race.”