Once in the snow, the game changed for Bouffier.
By Roberto Motta
Photos by Peugeot-media and Renault communication
This year, Peugeot badly wanted to win the centenary Monte, and they succeeded! The 2011 Rallye Monte-Carlo was won by Bouffier/Panseri at the wheel of the 207 S2000.
After the first stage, the 207 S2000 and the Peugeot France driver controlled the rally and went on to take the win.
“At the beginning, I wasn’t the fastest driver on this rally which was never easy. This is the best win of my career,” said Bryan Bouffier. “I wonder whether I will ever experience anything like this again. Winning the Monte Carlo is magic!”
Exhausted, happy, hungry and suddenly famous, Bryan Bouffier.
The story of this ‘Monte’ edition started on Wednesday, January 19th. But at the end of the first leg the Peugeot 207 Super 2000 were actually behind. It is a dramatic leg. The rally turned out to be more complex than expected, and 27 of the 110 original starters failed to reach the finish in Valence. The toll included the Peugeot 207 Super 2000s of Neuville (Peugeot Belux) and Magalhaes (Peugeot Portugal) who were both eliminated by mistakes.
This gives a good indication of the size of the Peugeot S2000.
During the first leg, the 207 Super 2000s were not competitive because of an inappropriate choice of too-soft a tire compound. Twenty-four hours later, after Thursday afternoon’s snow, the situation was reversed and the rally became very exciting, with four Peugeots in the top five overnight. Bryan Bouffier climbed from seventh to first place in the space of just one stage. Then, the 207 S2000 led the rally to the finish.
Bouffier way sideways in the snow.
At the same time, Pierre Campana and Sabrina de Castelli won the ‘two wheel drive’ class with a Renault Clio R3.
Freddy Lox and Frederic Miclotte in the Skoda Fabia took second.
Renault Clio of Pierre Campana won the 2 wheel drive class.
The “Monte”, is one of the most prestigious races of the World Rally, and it is an event in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, which is currently reserved for the S2000 cars, a less complex and expensive formula for all the teams. This year Monte Carlo Rally also celebrated its hundred year anniversary. The route still includes the legendary Col de Turini, where the best drivers have written many glorious pages in the history of world rallying.
Monaco waits for the rally contestants to arrive for the last stage.
The Solberg Peugeot encounters familiar rally terrain.
British Peugeot entry is easily identifiable. This is the Peugeot of Guy Wilkes who finished third.
And yet another car the U.S. market will never see.
The Peugeot Super 200 is really a small car, and yet very agressive.
Pos. Team Car Time
1 BOUFFIER Bryan/PANSERI Xavier Peugeot 207 S2000 3h32m55.6s
2 LOIX Freddy/MICLOTTE Frederic Skoda Fabia S2000 +32.5s
3 WILKS Guy/PUGH Philip Peugeot 207 S2000 +1m19.7s
4 SARRAZIN Stéphane/RENUCCI Jacques-Julien Peugeot 207 S2000 +1m21.9s
5 DELECOUR François/SAVIGNONI Dominique Peugeot 207 S2000 +1m22.4s
6 HANNINEN Juho/MARKKULA Mikko Skoda Fabia S2000 +1m29.3s
7 VOUILLOZ Nicolas/VEILLAS Benjamin Skoda Fabia S2000 +4m47.8s
8 KOPECKY Jan/STARY Petr Skoda Fabia S2000 +7m45.9s
9 BASSO Giandomenico/DOTTA Mitia Peugeot 207 S2000 +8m46.0s
10 GARDEMEISTER Toni/TUOMINEN Tomi Peugeot 207 S2000 +9m09.0s
11 CAFFI Alex/PEROGLIO Roberto Skoda Fabia S2000 +13m06.2s
12 MAURIN Julien/URAL Olivier Ford Fiesta S2000 +13m38.9s
13 GONON Florian/ARLETTAZ Sandra Subaru Impreza STI +16m05.8s
14 CAMPANA Pierre/DE CASTELLI Sabrina Renault Clio R3 +24m02.5s
15 BURRI Michael/REY Stéphane Citroën DS3 R3 +25m07.8s