Kangur to benefit from Cambiaghi’s expertise for IRC bid

Martin Kangur can call on the services of a highly experienced team member for his IRC 2WD Cup campaign with the Honda Catwees Racing squad.

Anna Cambiaghi, a former driver and co-driver, has recently joined JAS Motorsport and will oversee Kangur’s programme in a Honda Civic Type R, which continues on this week’s Geko Ypres Rally in Belgium following the young Estonian’s return to the series in Sicily last week.

“After Martin slipped off the track during testing, our technicians had to go into overdrive to deliver a top-notch car,” said Cambiaghi. “And on top of that we’ve had to prepare for two rounds of the IRC back to back. It’s been quite a challenge, but I couldn’t think of a better way to learn than being dropped in at the deep end. The car is running well, Martin is very happy and he has his sights on a top five place in 2WD.”

Cambiaghi is no stranger to motorsport having been hugely successful during the 1980s.

“My brothers and cousins absolutely loved rally sport and that’s how it all started for me really - as their co-driver,” she explained. “My cousin sometimes got tired during the rally, so I just took over the wheel and got the taste for it. In the rally of Lugano I came second and Carlo Chiti, the boss of Autodelta, sent me to the Tour de France-Auto. I also acquired factory support for the Italian rallies." 



But Cambiaghi also tried her hand at circuit racing, with success in sportscars, touring cars and even Formula 3.

“After rally, I always wanted to do something else and it started with sportcars,” she said. “In 1977 I made my debut in the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Osella and Giorgio Francia. But my favourite circuit has to be the old Nürburgring! The Chevrolet Camaro of the Belgian-Italian Luigi Cimarosti remains a highlight for me; a beast of a car that I shared with Lella Lombardi in the European Touring Car Championship. It had a lot of power, but the car didn’t always pass the whole race. I changed to an Alfa GTV of Jolly Club in 1982, and after that then stayed active in touring cars.” 



Cambiaghi returned to rallying and retired following the Safari Rally in 1989. Her new role at JAS marks a new chapter in her vast motorsport career.

“The fact that I can work in the IRC thanks to Honda and JAS Motorsport is absolutely fantastic because motorsport, and especially rally sport, has always been the love of my life.”