Russia - Peugeot Sport - PreviewThree weeks have passed since the Ypres Rally, where the Peugeot Sport Spain team again achieved an excellent result with Enrique García Ojeda's second-place finish aboard his Peugeot 207 S2000, thereby setting Peugeot in the manufacturer's
lead of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) and placing the Spaniard second in the driver's standings.
It is in such a promising situation that Peugeot Sport Spain will now take on Rally Russia this week-end, the team's third rendezvous with the IRC, with both its 207 S2000 cars: one for Ojeda, one for Frenchman Nicolas Vouilloz.
Three podiums over two races, such are the excellent results after participating in two IRC events. With Vouilloz's first place and Ojeda's third place in Turkey, followed by Ojeda's second-place finish in the prestigious Belgian Ypres Rally, the objective is now even more ambitious.
Both drivers will push to add another victory in their campaign for the title. Thanks to the tremendous efforts provided by the whole team, Vouilloz's car was repared in time following its violent crash in Belgium. It was necessary to work night and day between the moment the car left Belgium and the moment it was afterwards transported to Russia – which only adds to the reasons why victory at this gravel rally would be just rewards.
"The efforts given by each member of the team has been entirely impressive," explained Peugeot Sport Spain Team Principal Borja Moratal. "Getting the car ready in time was practically a mission impossible, however it was done, the car is in perfect order and ready to fight for a new win."
"For such a logistically complex race, with authorizations and everything else, bringing here an infrastructure like ours is not simple and that is our first success," he added.
"As for as the race goes, I am convinced that our results will be excellent.
In Belgium, the cars were perfect, no failures and strong reliability. For me, Vouilloz is evidently a top favourite. And Enrique will surprise us again, the season he has been running is impressive," Moratal said.
Enrique García Ojeda's talent has brought him into the second position of the IRC rankings. He is a serious contender for the title and will have the occasion to show it again in Russia. "My goal is to finish among the top three, if possible on the highest step of the podium," he declared.
Nicolas Vouilloz is aware of the importance of the event: "We cannot commit any mistakes, we have to score points for the championship."
"I will try to achieve a good result in order to thank all the engineers for the enormous amount of work they accomplished. Everyone did everything to repair the car in time, I hope to offer them great satisfaction," he insisted.
