Campana registers debut WRC points

Starting the final day of this French round of the World Rally Championship in the top ten following a second day in which he competed with all the hallmarks of an established WRC driver, Pierre Campana has ended his first Rallye de France-Alsace at an equally high level. His overall performances at the wheel of the MINI John Cooper Works WRC of Team Drive-Pro have earned him ninth place and registration of his first points in the World Rally Championship.

Morning

Taking care on the opening stage of the day (Gravière de Bischwiller), a stage scattered with numerous patches of gravel and which he drove in the dark with hard tyres, Pierre soon picked up the pace he showed on Saturday by posting the 8th best time in the following stage, just three-tenths from the WRC Focus of Hirvonen. The show route in Haguenau (4.20 km) saw the Rally Team France driver place his car second place of the MINI clan. Like yesterday, Pierre couldn’t wait to get the second loop underway.

Performance in SS18 - SS20 : 15th / 8th / 11th
Progression of Overall Classification from SS18 to SS20 : 10th / 10th / 10th

Afternoon

Once again taking care on the special stages that include gravel sections (a surface which Pierre is still learning), Pierre picked up the pace once more in Cleebourg (SS22). An improvement of 8.5s, his time put him 8th in the stage classification, again just behind Hirvonen. Haguenau didn’t change the outcome of Pierre’s Rally de France-Alsace, as he was firmly settled in the tenth place he had occupied since the day before.

Performance in SS21-23: 15th / 8th / 10th
Progression of Overall Classification from SS21 to SS23 : 10th / 10th / 10th

SUMMARY

For his second ever participation at world class rally level, the FFSA Rally Team France driver has captured the attention of keen observers, above all in relation to his performance on Saturday. His fifth time in special stage 13, followed by a series of high-flying times on Saturday afternoon and Sunday allowed him to realise his full and real potential. While awaiting his next taste of the World Rally Championship (for which he cannot wait!), Pierre Campana is expected to take command once again of the Drive-Pro run MINI John Cooper Works WRC on two occasions in the French Rally Championship, at Rally Cévennes and Rally du Var.

Pierre Campana, FFSA Rally Team France Driver 2011: “This second contest in the World Rally Championship has allowed me once again to acquire considerable experience! I cannot thank enough the FFSA, Drive-Pro, Michelin and all my other partners for giving me this excellent opportunity. Aside from the slight frustration with the perimeter poles on the opening day, I think I turned around the situation to my advantage for the rest of the event. I am delighted to have had the chance to fight alongside some of the most experienced drivers in WRC and even more so to have scored my first ever points in the WRC. It’s perhaps not surprising that I want to do it all again very soon!”

François Padrona, Managing Director of Team Drive-Pro: “I would like to congratulate Pierre Campana and Sabrina de Castelli for the performance and for the very important World Championship points! After a difficult first day, Pierre was able to turn things around and to immerse himself in some stages with the elite of the field. I also congratulate the entire Drive-Pro team who performed a remarkable job and Prodrive for this very successful and fruitful collaboration.”