Bouffier still hopeful of IRC title despite crash

Bryan Bouffier has described the moment when his Barum Czech Rally Zlín came to a dramatic end two kilometres from the finish of Sunday’s opening stage.

Bouffier, in a Peugeot France 207 S2000, was dicing for a podium finish when he left the road and struck a boulder.

“I was trying, doing my best when I went off, hit a boulder and broke off two wheels,” said the Rallye Monte-Carlo winner. “For sure I’m very disappointed but this is the race and I was trying to keep my position and also fight the guys in front of me.”

Bouffier’s early exit has hit his hopes of capturing the Intercontinental Rally Challenge title at the end of the season. However, he is refusing to give up hope.

“For sure we needed good points and the result this weekend is very bad,” said the 32-year-old. “But there are still some races left.”

Bouffier returns to IRC action on the Canon Mecsek Rallye in Hungary, a new addition to the IRC calendar from 9-11 September.