IRC news before Rally Corsica (Part 2)

All the information you need

By Franck Drui

10 May 2012 - 10:09
IRC news before Rally Corsica (Part 2)

Local hero Campana counts on home support

Pierre Campana will be counting on the support of thousands of his fellow Corsicans when he contests round four of the 2012 Intercontinental Rally Challenge on the picturesque Mediterranean island from today.

Campana, who lives in Corte where Friday’s competitive action will be centred, will pilot a Peugeot 207 Super 2000 for the Italian Munaretto team. Sabrina de Castelli will co-drive.
Following Wednesday’s shakedown, Campana said: “It means a lot to me to be driving in front of my fans, my friends, my family and, of course, many Corsicans. There are a lot of people here giving me a lot of support and that is very important. I am determined to challenge for the best result possible and their backing can really help me. And with the event being shown live on Eurosport of course it is very good for my sponsors.”

Inspired Arzeno ready for Corsica debut

Intercontinental Rally Challenge rising star Mathieu Arzeno says watching Thierry Neuville win Giru di Corsica-Tour de Corse live on Eurosport last year has inspired him ahead of this year’s event.

Arzeno has never competed on the island rally, which starts in Ajaccio today (Thursday) and finishes in Bastia on Saturday evening following 318 kilometres of demanding stage action.
The French promise will compete in a latest specification Peugeot 207 Super 2000 run by the Saintéloc Racing-Mister Auto team.

“My memories of this rally are mostly from my father: he competed in Corsica in 1987 with a Renault 5 GT turbo, and he has told me a bit about his experiences,” said Arzeno. “Then of course I remember watching the excellent Eurosport TV coverage last year and seeing Thierry Neuville win: that was really impressive, both from him and from Peugeot.”

Honda improvements boost Krozser

Menya Krózser’s Honda Civic Type R will feature a series of homologation upgrades when he tackles Giru di Corsica-Tour de Corse for the first time this week.

Honda Motor Europe’s official partner JAS Motorsport has introduced several changes to the Civic since 1 April. Krózser’s Gyula Hering-run entry was transported to Corsica via the JAS factory near Milan where the changes were incorporated.

“That allowed us to install the new engine, a lightweight dashboard and a new homologated rear anti-roll bar,” said JAS engineer Pierernesto Pagani. “We could also control the car completely and performed final testing. We hope that we were able to raise the chances of Krózser, and especially Honda in the IRC 2WD Cup manufacturers’ standings.”

Sarrazin back in the IRC with Peugeot

Stéphane Sarrazin will be back in action in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge with Peugeot this week, albeit as the driver of the course opening zero car.

Le Mans 24 Hours racer Sarrazin, who finished fourth on his last appearance in the IRC on Rallye Monte-Carlo last year, will give Peugeot’s all-new 208 R2 its first public showing when he drives through the 14 stages that make up this year’s Giru di Corsica-Tour de Corse ahead of the main field with co-driver Benjamin Veillas.

The 208 R2 is the precursor to the R5-specificaiton 208, which will take over from the ultra-successful 207 Super 2000 at national and international level. It will be unveiled in September.

“With the 208, Peugeot has given itself the means to create a new motoring icon,” said the company’s Range Director Laurent Blanchet. “The 208 carries over the spirit of the 205 and the 206, plus the functionality of the 207 in a thoroughly modern package,” added Product Director Xavier Peugeot.

Three questions to: Pierre Campana

Local hero is ‘feeling good’ as he prepares for his first appearance in this season’s all-action Intercontinental Rally Challenge.

Being from Corsica you must be able to count on a lot of local support?

“Ever since my participation in this year’s Tour de Corse was confirmed a few weeks ago, I have been inundated with support and good wishes from people which has certainly given me a feel-good factor heading into this event.”

What does it mean to you to be competing on your home round of the IRC?

“I am proud and honoured to be able to compete at Tour de Corse for a second year in a row together with the professional guys from Munaretto Sport and with the support of Peugeot and my personal partners for this event. It will be fun to get behind the wheel of the Peugeot 207 S2000 on Michelin tyres in a rally situation following our two-day test with the car last week.”

You were fourth in Corsica in 2011. Is the aim to go one better this year?

“There have been a few changes to the route since last year but I remain confident in our abilities and with the car, so I will be looking to compete with the frontrunners throughout the event, to fight for competitive stage times and to end the rally with a chance of a podium result, which I feel is possible if we can avoid misfortune.”

More IRC Production Cup rivals pleases champion co-driver

Navigator Dale Moscatt has welcomed the increased competition in the IRC Production Cup this season as he and driver Toshi Arai prepare to begin their title defence on Giru di Corsica-Tour de Corse this week.

The Subaru pair will face opposition from three fellow Impreza R4-mounted crews on the island rally, while Renault Mégane pair François Delecour and Emmanuel Guigou are also set to battle for victory.

“There are quite a few decent steerers in the IRC Production Cup this season and that’s a good thing,” said Moscatt, who is from Australia. “Realistically our aim has got to be the class rather than anything more but it’s going to be a tough battle against the other R4s. Toshi has done this rally a few times now and I was with him here last year so we know what to expect and there aren’t many new stages.”

Having achieved their IRC Production Cup crown in 2011 with the Austria-based Stohl Racing operation, Arai and Moscatt have formed a new partnership with Tommi Mäkinen Racing from Finland.

“Although the specifications of the cars are the same, every time builds their car in a slightly different way so shakedown was a good opportunity to learn the car,” said Moscatt.

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