Kris Meeke has won the all-gravel Curitiba Rally in Brazil. The Peugeot UK driver claimed all seven stages on the opening day of round two of the IRC series and then maintained his lead on the second day to finish with a 26.2-second margin over Peugeot Belgium's Nicolas Vouilloz.
"This is one of the best rallies I have ever experienced," said Meeke. "From start to finish, it was simply awesome. The stages are just incredible: so enjoyable to drive. I had a really good feeling with the car and the team and at the end of it we got the perfect result."
Vouilloz entered the day behind Giandomenico Basso but managed to overhaul the Abarth Grande Punto driver on the final afternoon to take second. Peugeot Belgium's Freddy Loix was fourth and with that finished moved into the points lead.
Anton Alen retired his Abarth on the second stage of day two after going off the road. The rally finish, at the Curitiba circuit in Brazil, was immediately followed by the qualifying session for the opening round of the FIA World Touring Car Championship.
Freddy Loix is now in the lead of the IRC championship with 13 points, ahead of Kris Meeke, Sebastien Ogier and Giandomenico Basso who are all tied for second on 10 points. Nicolas Vouilloz is third in the standings with eight points.
IRC FINAL RESULTS AFTER SS13, RALLY INTERNACIONAL DE CURITIBA (BRAZIL)*
1 Meeke/Nagle Peugeot 207 S2000 2h08m05.7s
2 Vouilloz/Klinger Peugeot 207 S2000 +26.2s
3 Basso/Dotta Abarth Grande Punto S2000 +47.9s
4 Loix/Smeets Peugeot 207 S2000 +2m32.1s
5 Cancio/Garcia Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 +5m20.0s
6 Tulio/Valandro Peugeot 206 S1600 +19m04.0s
Two-wheel drive leader: Rafael Tulio (Peugeot 206 S1600)
Photo and quotes courtesy of the IRC.
2 Comments
Loading more comments...
This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete