Bouffier expects to lose time running first

Bryan Bouffier admits running first on the road on the final day of Sata Rallye Açores, round six of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, will require even more commitment from him and co-driver Xavier Panseri.

The Peugeot France driver is faced with the prospect of forging a clean path through the loose surface gravel for his rivals over Saturday’s five stages.

He said: “What can we do? It’s going to be difficult but this is how it is. It will be impossible to make good times because you don’t know where the line is for the corner and the braking points are difficult to discover. We will just do our best.”

Providing he finishes eighth or higher Bouffier will move to the top of the IRC drivers’ standings, overtaking Freddy Loix in the process. Loix has not nominated the island rally on his schedule of events this season.

Top 10 starting positions for day three

1 Bryan Bouffier/Xavier Panseri (Peugeot 207 S2000)
2 Jan Kopecký/Petr Starý (ŠKODA Fabia S2000)
3 Bruno Magalhães/Paulo Grave (Peugeot 207 S2000)
4 Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene (ŠKODA Fabia S2000)
5 Juho Hänninen/Mikko Markkula (ŠKODA Fabia S2000)
7 Patrik Sandell/Staffan Parmander (ŠKODA Fabia S2000)
8 Toshi Arai/Dale Moscatt (Subaru Impreza STI R4)
9 Ricardo Moura/Sandro Eiró (Ralliart Lancer Evolution IX)
10 Vitor Lopes/Hugo Magalhães (Subaru Impreza STI WRX)