Campana aims to end IRC 2WD Cup campaign on a high

Rising rally star Pierre Campana plans to bow out of the IRC 2WD Cup in style by winning the category on Barum Czech Rally Zlin, which gets underway this evening.

Campana, 25, has claimed podium finishes in the series on the two appearances he has made so far this season and currently holds second place in the drivers’ standings in his Renault Clio R3, four points adrift of the title lead.

However, Clio R3 drivers can only score IRC 2WD Cup points on the three events that run in tandem with IRC rounds, namely Monte Carlo, Ypres and Zlin. That means Campana won’t be eligible for points in the two-wheel drive division on his next scheduled event after Zlin, Rallye Sanremo in late September.

"I’ve really enjoyed driving my Ellip6 Renault Clio R3 in the IRC 2WD Cup and I’m very pleased with the results I have achieved," said the 25-year-old Campana, who tops the standings in the Clio R3 European Trophy, which is appearing on three rounds of the IRC 2WD Cup this season. "It’s possible I could go to Sanremo with another type of car but, as things stand, this will be the last time I can score IRC 2WD Cup points so I would love nothing more than to win my last 2WD Cup event although I know it will very difficult because there will be lots of other quick drivers."

With his rally career still in its infancy, Campana has yet to tackle the all-asphalt stages around the city of Zlin. Unlike traditional sealed-surface events, the rally route is made up of largely bumpy roads, some on concrete, others using broken Tarmac. Most of the stages run through forests and woodland areas with fast corners and tree-line stretches commonplace.

"From what I was told and from what I experienced in the recce this is a very specific rally where experience is important," said the Corsican ace. "But most rallies I go to I do so for the first time and I am often able to prepare a good set of pacenotes and perform well, even though I don’t have much knowledge of the stages or the terrain. I am confident I can do the same here and deliver a strong result for my sponsor Ellip6, who have done so much to help me this season."

Campana underlined his potential by finishing third in the Junior World Rally Championship section of Rallye de France-Tour de Corse in 2008. He followed that success up by finishing second in the IRC 2WD Cup on Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo back in January. His performances in his career so far earned him a spot in respected rally news website Maxrally.com’s top 10 drivers to watch.

"Things are going in the right direction for me and I am very grateful to everybody who has made that possible," said Campana. "The important thing now is to continue learning and improving and I intend to do that in the Czech Republic this weekend."

Barum Czech Rally Zlin, which covers 265.26 competitive kilometres over 17 special stages, marks the start of a busy few weeks for Campana and co-driver Sabrina de Castelli. Following the finish of the Czech event on Sunday evening, the duo will head to Italy for the Alpi Orientali Rally, a round of the Italian Clio R3 Trophy.

Quick Q+A with Pierre Campana

Since your last rally in Belgium in June how have you kept busy?

"My physical fitness is very important to me so I have been training very hard both in the gym and by running near my home in Corsica. I also have to work to pay my bills and this keeps me busy."

Are you concerned you have not been in a rally car for a long time?

"It’s always nice to do rallies and test but it’s not always possible for logistical and financial reasons. My Ellip6 Renault Clio R3 is always very well maintained by my team, Munaretto, so whenever I get into the car I have a good base set-up. I work will with my co-driver Sabrina de Castelli so it doesn’t take long to get back up to speed when we have not competed for a while."

It’s a busy couple of weeks for you with two rallies on successive weekends...

"I cannot wait! For sure you like as much time as possible to prepare for each event but it won’t be a problem to do rallies one after the other. I want rallying to be my career so I have to get used to a busy schedule. Certainly it’s something I am very excited about."