Bouffier won’t ease off on final night

Bryan Bouffier’s co-driver Xavier Panseri says they cannot afford to ease off on the final night of Rally Monte-Carlo, despite holding a lead of 39.7s with four stages of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge qualifier remaining.

Bouffier moved into first place in his Peugeot France 207 Super 2000 on the snow-hit seventh stage on Thursday afternoon and has maintained his advantage ever since.

“We are confident for tonight but we know the gap is never enough,” said Panseri. “We know to keep our position the best solution is to attack and that is what we will be doing.”

Bouffier’s only previous Rallye Monte-Carlo ended before he reached the final night time stages although he has driven over Col de Turini on Rallye Antibes, a round of the French and European championships, back in 2006.

The current weather forecast for Friday night’s stages is for dry conditions although ambient temperatures are continuing to fall.