WEC Maxxis FIM World Enduro Championship ; Championship celebrations for Eero Remes & Mickael Persson

The 2015 Maxxis FIM Enduro World Championship’s final day of competition in Requista, France saw Eero Remes (TM) and Mikael Persson (Yamaha) crowned as the Enduro 1 and Enduro Junior world champions.

For Remes the concluding day of the series brought with it celebrations following yet another faultless performance, securing the Finn the Enduro 1 World Championship. At the end of what has been an incredible season for the Finn, Eero once again go the better of Christophe Nambotin (KTM) to earn his first EWC title. But victory on day two of the GP of France was a close run thing in the E1 class, with just 12 seconds separating this year’s best performing duo. Third went to Sherco’s Anthony Boissiere, with Lorenzo Santolino (Sherco) fourth. In placing fourth, and less than one second ahead of Danny McCanney (Husqvarna), Santolino earned himself third overall in the 2015 Enduro 1 World Championship behind Remes and Nambotin. But the day very much belonged to Remes. “It’s amazing to finally win a world title. I really enjoyed this last round of the series, and I think that showed in my riding. I didn't feel any pressure and rode well. I liked the conditions and won the championship with two day wins.”

 

Eero REMES signed the double this weekend and is crowned E1 World Champ

In the Enduro 2 class Alex Salvini (Honda) claimed what was a relatively straight forward victory. With newly crowned Enduro 2 World Champion Antoine Meo opting not to race, Salvini placed 47 seconds ahead of local star Jeremy Tarroux (Sherco). Making it three different manufacturers on the podium, third went to Spain’s Jaume Betriu (Husqvarna). Behind Meo in the Enduro 2 World Championship standings, Alex Salvini placed second, 2014 champion Pela Renet third with Jamue Betriu and Loic Larrieu rounding out the top five.

With the 2015 Enduro 3 World Championship title already his following a runner-up result on day one, Mathias Bellino ended his season just as he’d started it – winning. With day one winner Matt Phillips crashing on numerous occasions, it was Finn Matti Seistola (Sherco) who challenged the newly crowned E3 champion the hardest. At the end of the day just 10 second separated the two riders. Delivering his best performance of the championship Spain’s Jonathan Barragan (Gas Gas)rounded out the podium. With Bellino winning the E3 title, second went to Matt Phillips – the 2014 champion – with Matti Seistola, Aigar Leok (TM) and Luis Correia (Beta) placing third through fifth respectively.

 

Mathias BELLINO has been the only French able to win this weekend

Steve Holcombe (Beta) was the rider to beat in the Enduro Junior class, keeping himself ahead of Italy’s Alessandro Battig (Honda) to claim a 15 second winning margin and bring his outstanding debut EWC season to a positive close. Jamie McCanney (Husqvarna), who wrapped up the Enduro Junior title on day one, was a spectator on day two due to a sinus infection. Giacomo Redondi (Beta) placed third. Jamie McCanney, Giacomo Redondi and Steve Holcombe were the top three finishers in the 2015 Enduro Junior World Championship.

Laia Sanz was another rider not competing on day two, travelling to Morocco to compete in a rally event with the 2015 Enduro Women’s title already secured. Taking full advantage of the situationJane Daniels (Husqvarna) moved to the top of the class. Jane placed 24 seconds ahead ofJessica Gardiner (Sherco) with Jemma Wilson (Yamaha) rounding out the top three. Winning each day of the Enduro Women’s championship she entered Laia Sanz ended her season ahead ofJane Daniels with Jessica Gardiner third.

The last title of the 2015 Maxxis FIM Enduro World Championship to be decided was the Enduro Youth class. A straight up fight between Sweden’s Mikael Persson (Yamaha) and Spain’s Josep Garcia (Husqvarna), at the end of the day less than five seconds separated the two youngsters with Persson able to celebrate his first world title. “It feels so, so good to win. I made a big mistake on one of the special tests today and thought that was it. But I kept pushing and, well, it’s just amazing. The whole season has been incredible for me, to end it as a world champion is awesome.” After Persson, Josep Garcia and Jack Edmondson finished second and third in the final Enduro Youth championship standings.

 

The happiness of Mikael PERSSON and the whole Johansson MPE team

Vidéo : les meilleurs moments du Tour de Corse

Blancpain Sprint Series Misano ; Ferrari wins in Italy, title race goes down to the wire

 
Norbert Siedler and Marco Seefried and their #333 Rinaldi Racing Ferrari had a perfect race weekend during the Misano round of the 2015 Blancpain Sprint Series, taking pole position and the win in both the qualifying and main races. The green Ferrari crossed the line with seven seconds in hand over the #84 HTP Bentley of Maxi Buhk and Vincent Abril. In the driver standings the Bentley Boys have reduced the gap to leaders Vanthoor and Frijns to eight points. Third in Misano went to the #63 Grasser Lamborghini of Bortolotti and Kujala, in the drivers' first ever-race in the Blancpain Sprint Series. Pro-Am Cup was won by the GT Russian duo of Asmer-Vasilyev, while the Fjordbach twins in the #74 ISR Audi took honours in the Silver Cup. 

With two prestigious Italian car manufacturers on the front row, the start for the Blancpain Sprint Series Main Race in Misano was sure to get the Italian race fans excited. But when the lights went out, Atila Abreu in the #77 AH Competicoes Team Brazil BMW almost spoilt their party by squeezing his car in between the Ferrari of Marco Seefried and the Lamborghini of Patrick Kujala. However, coming out of the first corner it was the Finnish youngster who led the pack, recording the first lap in the lead of a sprint race for the Lamborghini Huracan.

His joy was not to last long, for a couple of laps later Seefried produced a magnificent overtaking manoeuvre, retaking the lead. The Ferrari driver quickly ran away from Kujala, who now was under pressure from Maxi Buhk in the #84 HTP Bentley. Buhk, who had started from seventh, was soon up to fourth and by passing the BMW of Abreu after only a couple of laps moved up to third. Just before the pitstop window opened, Buhk took second away from Kujala as well.

The driver change in the Lamborghini camp was not the best ever, dropping the #63 car one more place down the order. With new tyres, Mirko Bortolotti managed to climb back to third, but that is as high as he could get. In front, Norbert Siedler kept on pushing at the wheel of the #333 Ferrari, increasing his lead to over ten seconds at a point. In the end that was more than enough to hold the first position until the finish, ending the weekend with a perfect score.

By finishing second, Vincent Abril and Maxi Buhk reduced the gap to series leaders Laurens Vanthoor and Robin Frijns - non-starters after yesterday's crash - to eight points. Norbert Siedler is still in the running for the drivers title as well, 17 points behind the leaders. While Vanthoor is suffering from a sprained foot and will have some anxious days before he can make a decision on the subject of driving in Zandvoort, Siedler is already sure he will have to look for a new team-mate, with Marco Seefried unable to attend the season finale.

Behind the podium finishers Valdeno Brito in the #77 Team Brasil BMW and Craig Dolby in the #173 Always Evolving Nissan had a most entertaining scrap for fourth, with the Brazilian eventually holding on to his position. That was not enough to keep the Brazilian squad in the running for the teams' title in the Blancpain Sprint Series however, since Ortelli and Richelmi's seventh was enough for the Belgian Audi Club Team WRT to secure the 2015 Blancpain Sprint Series Teams’ title.

In Pro-Am Cup Alexey Karachev claimed the drivers' title, even though the Russian saw today's race win go to his GT Russian team-mates Asmer and Vasilyev. In the Silver Cup the #74 ISR Audi of the Fjordbach brothers was the only car to take the start of the race, with the #83 HTP Bentley of Szymkowiak-Van Splunteren too badly damaged after yesterday's qualifying race and the #19 Grasser Lamborghini of Mul-Di Folco unable to get onto the grid due to mechanical gremlins. Through these results the Fjordbach twins are now back in the running for the Silver Cup title, travelling to Zandvoort with a 16-point deficit on leader Jules Szymkowiak.

 

Marco Seefried (#333 Rinaldi Racing Ferrari): "I have to admit I did not know that trying to overtake the Lamborghini would work out. He had a little slide coming out of turn 11 and I could catch up. He realised I was there and closed the inside, so there was only one way left around him. I knew I would not get so many chances to do a move, so I took the chance and it worked out."

Norbert Siedler (#333 Rinaldi Racing Ferrari): "We are very happy with this win, the team did a perfect job and now we are still in the running for the title. Unfortunately Marco cannot make it to Zandvoort to fight with me for the title. We will try to find another driver to help me make the most of it, but it will not be easy for sure."

Maxi Buhk (#84 Bentley Team HTP Continental): "It was a pretty good start and a good first lap, followed by a good fight with the Lambo. I was waiting for a mistake, since I was not in a position to be too aggressive, because that could have cost us some points. I had to be patient. When we overtook him, I tried to pull clear before the pitstop, which I did. Unfortunately, we lost some time with the door of the car during the driver change, but the end result was really good."

Mirko Bortolotti (#63 Grasser Racing Lamborghini): "As soon as I was out on track after the pitstop, there was only one strategy: push like hell. When I had passed the BMW I tried to close the gap on the Bentley, but it was running at about the same pace as me. Maybe I was a little bit faster, but enough to make a move. I think this third place is the absolute maximum that we could get, so I am very happy with what we did this weekend."

Marko Asmer (#71 GT Russian Team): "First of all I would like to thank the team to get both cars ready for today, after a slight mistake caused damage to both of them in yesterday's qualifying race. They boys did not sleep all night, so thank you for that. The race itself was pretty fun, as it always is. I really enjoyed it. »

_____ 

Final Result list Main Race

10 INCREDIBLE CLIPS FROM THE DRIVER'S POINT OF VIEW

Photo by Peter Aylward The only thing better than an onboard camera is a camera placed at the driver's eye level; and now, thanks to the wonders of technology, we have a growing number of clips online that show just that. From James Hinchcliffe's recent return to an IndyCar to a rained-out Nürburgring 24 Hour race—and some sunny clips from Monterey thrown in for good measure—these films put you as close to the action as you'll be able to get…without, of course, actually sitting in a race car.

James Hinchcliffe @ Road America in a 2015 IndyCar

Leh Keen @ Nürburgring Nordschleife in a Porsche 911 GT3 R

Tommy Milner @ 24 Hours of Daytona in a Corvette C7.R

Patrick Long @ Monterey in a 1975 Porsche 911 3.0 Carrera RSR

Alex Lynn @ Goodwood in a 1990 Williams FW13B

Simon Pagenaud @ Rallye National de la Vienne (France) in a Peugeot 207

Marino Franchitti @ Monterey in a 1975 Gulf Mirage GR8

Gunnar Jeanette @ Monterey in a 1971 Porsche 908/3

Randy Pobst @ Monterey in a 1980 IMSA GT BMW M1

Fredrik Sørlie @ the Nurburgring Nordschleife in a Toyota Cressida…drifting

Magny-Cours, STK1000 ;victoire de Guarnoni et Savadori sacré / Savadori wins the STK1000 title after Guarnoni’s race victory

Calia et De Rosa complétaient le podium derrière le Français.

Qualifié en pole position, Jérémy Guarnoni (Team Trasimeno Yamaha) est allé chercher une superbe victoire à domicile dimanche à Magny-Cours lors de la dernière manche de la Coupe FIM Superstock 1000, que remportait Lorenzo Savadori (Nuova M2 Racing) en finissant huitième de la course. 

En s’imposant devant Kevin Calia (Nuova M2 Racing Aprilia) et Raffaele De Rosa (Althea Racing Ducati), Guarnoni décrochait sa première victoire de la saison et la quatrième de sa carrière en STK1000, après avoir déjà gagné deux fois à Magny-Cours, en 2012 et 2013. 

Obligé de s’imposer en course pour ne pas concéder le titre à Savadori, Roberto Tamburini (MotoxRacing BMW) a fait tout son possible pour remonter le plus haut possible mais n’a pas été aidé par son départ en sixième ligne, qui annonçait avant la course une mission quasiment impossible. Le vice-Champion a fini en cinquième position, derrière Mathieu Gines (MRS Yamaha), qui s’était battu dans le Top 3 avant d’être devancé par Calia et De Rosa.

Tamburini is fifth at the flag as Calia and De Rosa complete the podium.

Jeremy Guarnoni (Team Trasimeno Yamaha) came out on top at the end of an intense 15-lap, FIM Superstock 1000 final race of the season at Magny-Cours. This is the fourth win in the series for the 22-year-old Frenchman, and the third in front of his home crowd. As a four-way fight for honours raged ahead, Roberto Tamburini (MotoxRacing BMW) and Lorenzo Savadori (Nuova M2 Racing) had their own personal battle for the title, with the Aprilia rider claiming the ultimate prize by finishing eighth at the line, but not without some drama.



Meanwhile Tamburini, who needed to win to have any chance of lifting the Champion’s trophy did all he could to recover as many places as possible, but his sixth-row start did not help the Italian in fulfilling an almost impossible mission. The 2015 runner-up was fifth at the flag behind local man Mathieu Gines (MRS Yamaha)

, with Italian riders Kevin Calia (Nuova M2 Racing Aprilia) and Raffaele De Rosa (Althea Racing Ducati) claiming the remaining podium positions in second and third, respectively, while Riccardo Russo (Team G.M. Racing Yamaha) crashed out of the leading group with two laps to go. 

La victoire pour Jacobsen, le titre pour Sofuoglu / Jacobsen wins as Sofuoglu clinches fourth WSS title

Le Turc s’est assuré son quatrième titre mondial en finissant deuxième derrière l’Américain.

L’avant-dernière manche du Championnat du Monde Supersport 2015 a dû être arrêtée au bout de quelques tours en raison des conditions de piste suite à la casse moteur dont Kevin Manfredi (CIA Landlords Insurance Honda) a été victime et a ensuite été relancée pour onze tours.

La course a finalement été remportée par PJ Jacobsen (CORE Motorsport Thailand) devant Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), qui s’est assuré une seconde place synonyme d’un quatrième titre de Champion du Monde Supersport.

Malgré un bon rythme en début de course, Lucas Mahias (MG Competition) n’a pas pu tenir la cadence des deux leaders mais a pris la troisième position et s’offrait un podium à domicile.

Lorenzo Zanetti (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) a quant à lui remporté son duel pour la quatrième place face à Kyle Smith (Pata Honda World Supersport Team), cinquième devant Kevin Wahr (SMS Honda) et Gino Rea (CIA Landlords Insurance Honda), qui a chuté mais est rapidement reparti pour finir septième.

Martin Cardenas (CIA Landlords Insurance Honda), Christian Gamarino (Team Go Eleven), Marco Faccani (San Carlo Puccetti Racing), Roberto Rolfo (Team Lorini), Dominic Schmitter (Team Go Eleven), Aiden Wagner (CIA Landlords Insurance Honda), Nico Terol (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) et Xavi Pinsach (Team Lorini) complétaient le Top 15.

En lice pour le podium en début de course, Alex Baldolini (Race Department ATK#25) a été contraint à l’abandon sur un problème technique. 

Le Championnat du Monde Supersport se rendra au Qatar du 16 au 18 octobre pour la dernière manche de la saison 2015.

Epic French WSS race between the title contenders.

The penultimate round of the World Supersport championship was stopped after several laps and restarted over a reduced distance of 11 laps following a retirement for Kevin Manfredi (CIA Landlords Insurance Honda) that brought out the red flags to allow the track conditions to be repaired. The race was eventually won by PJ Jacobsen (CORE Motorsport Thailand) after an edge of the seat duel with the new 2015 World Supersport Champion Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) who settled for a safe 2^ndposition and his 4^th WSS crown.

The podium was completed by local rider Lucas Mahias (MG Competition) who despite setting a good pace was unable to stay with the two leaders.

A two fight for fourth was eventually won by Lorenzo Zanetti (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) with Kyle Smith (Pata Honda World Supersport Team), Kevin Wahr (SMS Honda) and Gino Rea, who crashed and re-joined his CIA Landlords Insurance Honda to still to salvage 7^th.

The top ten was completed by Martin Cardenas (CIA Landlords Insurance Honda), Christian Gamarino (Team Go Eleven) and Marco Faccani (San Carlo Puccetti Racing).

Roberto Rolfo (Team Lorini), Dominic Schmitter (Team Go Eleven), Aiden Wagner (CIA Landlords Insurance Honda), Nico Terol (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) and Xavi Pinsach (Team Lorini) rounded out the point scorers.

There was huge disappointment for Alex Baldolini (Race Department ATK#25) who had been in contention for the podium in the opening encounter, the Italian failing to take to the grid after a technical problem forced his retirement.

The final round of the championship takes place under floodlights at Qatar in a fortnight.

Rea s’offre le doublé en France / Rea ends Fassi French Round with the double

RACE1 ;Le nouveau Champion du Monde s’est imposé devant Sykes et Guintoli.

Absent du podium à Jerez lors de son sacre de Champion du Monde eni FIM Superbike 2015, Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) a renoué avec la victoire dimanche matin à Magny-Cours, lors d’une première course réduite à 19 tours en raison des conditions météo. Sur piste mouillée, le Nord-Irlandais avait d’abord été distancé par son coéquipier Tom Sykes mais n’a pas baissé les bras et est parvenu à revenir sur son adversaire pour le doubler à trois tours de l’arrivée. Rea s’imposait ainsi pour la 13e fois de la saison et la première fois à Magny-Cours.

Seul en fin de course après avoir dû se battre pour se hisser à la troisième place, Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) a prolongé sa série de podiums à domicile et finissait dans le Top 3 pour la première fois de la saison.

Son coéquipier Michael van der Mark, Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse), qui signait le meilleur résultat de MV Agusta en WorldSBK, Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati SBK) et Matteo Baiocco (Althea Racing) complétaient le Top 7 devant Alex Lowes (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki), Leandro Mercado (Barni Racing Team) et Niccolò Canepa (Althea Racing).

Les derniers points sont revenus à Gianluca Vizziello (Grillini SBK Team), Jordi Torres (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils), Luca Scassa (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati SBK Team), Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia) et Roman Ramos (Team Go Eleven).

Leon Haslam (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils) était bien parti mais a dû rentrer aux stands pour passer sur pneus intermédiaires et a fini seizième, deux places devant Christophe Ponsson (Team Pedercini Kawasaki), tandis que Randy de Puniet (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) a été contraint à l’abandon.

RACE2;.Le nouveau Champion s’est imposé devant Davies et Sykes dans la seconde course.

Après s’être imposé à Magny-Cours pour la première fois le matin, Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) a récidivé l’après-midi lors de la seconde course de la journée et a signé sa 14e victoire, et 22e podium (soit autant que Troy Bayliss en 2002), en 24 courses cette saison mais aussi son cinquième doublé de l’année. 

Sacré Champion du Monde Superbike 2015 à Jerez lors de la manche précédente, le Nord-Irlandais s’est imposé devant Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing-Ducati SBK Team) et son coéquipier Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team), qui continueront à se disputer le titre de vice-Champion le 18 octobre à Losail lors de la dernière manche de la saison, que Davies abordera avec seize points d’avance sur Sykes.

Leon Haslam (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils) et Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) se sont quant à eux battus dans un duel pour la quatrième place, remporté par le Néerlandais, dont le coéquipier Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) a fini sixième sur piste sèche après s’être offert son premier podium de l’année sous la pluie le matin.

Niccolò Canepa (Althea Racing) a fini seul en septième position après s’être battu avec Jordi Torres (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils) et Luca Scassa (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati SBK Team) tandis que Alex Lowes (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) complétait le Top 10.

Randy de Puniet (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) et Christophe Ponsson (Team Pedercini Kawasaki) ont respectivement pris les 18e et 19e places.

Le paddock WorldSBK sera au Qatar, à Losail, du 16 au 18 octobre pour la dernière manche de la saison 2015.

RACE 1; Difficult conditions can’t dampen the on track action.

The opening WorldSBK race of the day at a very wet Magny-Cours has been won by newly crowned Superbike World Champion Jonathan Rea after a reduced race distance of 19 laps. The Kawasaki Racing Team rider overhauled long team leader and team mate Tom Sykes, who made a mistake at Turn 8, eventually finishing 4.7s behind Rea at the flag. For Rea it was a sweet victory and the first for him at the Magny-Cours circuit.

The podium was completed by Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) who kept his consecutive run of podium finishes at his home circuit in tact with a spirited ride.

4th, after a multi rider battle from the start was Michael van der Mark on the second Pata Honda, the Dutchman getting the better of Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) , Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati SBK) and Matteo Baiocco (Althea Racing) who completed the top 7, Camier giving the Italian manufacturer its best finish ever in its WorldSBK history.

Alex Lowes (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) rode a solid race after a huge spill in Superpole yesterday to claim 8th ahead of Leandro Mercado (Barni Racing Team) and Niccolo Canepa (Althea Racing) who finished 10th.

The final point scorers were Gianluca Vizziello (Grillini SBK Team), Jordi Torres (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils), Luca Scassa (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati SBK Team), Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia) and Roman Ramos (Team Go Eleven).

Leon Haslam (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils) started strongly but faded and with 7th laps to go he made the decision to pit for intermediate tyres, he eventually finished 16th after starting from Pole.

RACE2 ; Davies and Sykes complete Magny-Cours Race 2 podium.

The second race at Magny-Cours was won by Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team), the World Champion doing the double for the fifth time this year after a three-rider battle raged from the start. His podium tally of 22 puts him equal with Troy Bayliss who achieved the feat in 2002, and is the second highest number of podiums in a season in the all-time list.

At the flag at the end of 21-adrenalin-filled laps the remaining podium places were taken by Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team) and Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) meaning the fight for the runner-up spot in the series will continue to the season finale under floodlights in Qatar in a fortnight.

Behind the top three, Leon Haslam (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils) and Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) had their own private duel with the Dutchman taking fourth with a few laps to go from his English rival.

Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) had another solid day pleasing the many fans trackside with sixth in dry conditions.

Seventh was Niccolò Canepa (Althea Racing) ahead of the duelling Jordi Torres (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils) and Luca Scassa (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati SBK Team), who were eighth and ninth respectively, with Alex Lowes (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) rounding out the top 10.


The remaining points-scoring positions were claimed by Matteo Baiocco (Althea Racing), Leandro Mercado (Barni Racing), Markus Reiterberger (VanZon Rehema BMW), David Salom (Team Pedercini) and Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse).

WRC Rallye de France - Tour de Corse : Latvala, empereur sur l’asphalte français !/ Latvala… French asphalt Emperor!

Après l’Alsace en 2014, Jari-Matti Latvala et Miikka Anttila (Volkswagen/Michelin) ont de nouveau remporté le Rallye de France, en Corse cette fois. Elfyn Evans (Ford, +43s1) a créé la surprise en terminant deuxième, devant Andreas Mikkelsen (VW) qui échoué à 3s2 du Gallois. Quentin Gilbert est Champion du monde Juniors.

Après Markku Alèn (1983, 84, Jari-Matti Latvala est le 2^e Finlandais à remporter le Tour de Corse, à Ajaccio, ville natale de l’Empereur Napoléon Bonaparte.

Leader après l’ES3 grâce à une superbe performance dans des conditions dantesques, le Gallois Elfyn Evans (Ford) a dû s’incliner face au pilote VW en fin de 2^e étape, quand la météo est redevenue clémente sur l’Ile de Beauté. Jari-Matti Latvala a remporté sa 3^e victoire de la saison – la 15^e de sa carrière - après un accident lors des essais la semaine passée.

« Je suis très heureux, oui », avouait Jari-Matti à l’arrivée de la dernière spéciale. « J’ai gagné en Alsace l’an passé, et cette année en Corse. C’est ma seconde victoire sur asphalte, ce qui prouve que je suis performant sur tous les types de surface. »

Evans (2^e) fut impérial dans les conditions difficiles, vendredi, où l’île fut balayée par un déluge. Il n’a pu lutter face à Latvala, mais le pilote Ford est parvenu à conserver l’avantage pour 3s2 sur le Norvégien Andreas Mikkelsen (VW) à l’issue de la dernière spéciale. Le jeune Gallois signe le meilleur résultat de sa carrière après une 3^e place en Argentine cette saison.

Andreas Mikkelsen s’est offert un nouveau podium mondial. Reparti en Rally2 après un problème de boîte de vitesse, Sébastien Ogier n’a pu fêter son 3^e titre par une victoire en Corse. Mais le Français a de nouveau prouvé sa pointe de vitesse en remportant la Power Stage.

Kris Meeke (4^e, Citroën) n’a pas été très à l’aise sur les routes insulaires ce week-end, mais il termine à une place d’honneur devant Hayden Paddon (5^e, Hyundai), qui découvrait ce rallye, et son équipier Mads Ostberg (6^e, Citroën), visiblement bien remis de sa blessure avant le Rallye d’Australie.

Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) et Kevin Abbring (Hyundai) ont été victimes de sorties de route. Le Néerlandais avait pourtant réalisé une belle prestation le premier jour en terminant à la 2^e place.

En WRC-2, le Champion de France Julien Maurin (Ford) a dominé ses adversaires. Esapekka Lappi (Skoda) marque néanmoins des points importants au championnat.

Quentin Gilbert est sacré Champion du monde Junior (Citroën/Michelin) après une nouvelle victoire cette saison, alors que le vainqueur du Tour de Corse 1993 François Delecour (Porsche/Michelin) a remporté la catégorie R-GT.

Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila put their Volkswagen/Michelin at the top of the order in France for the second year running, this time in Corsica, a year after their Rallye de France triumph in Alsace. Elfyn Evans (+43.1s) caused a surprise by securing second thanks to an impressive Day 1 performance. Andreas Mikkelsen’s late bid to clinch third failed by 3.2s. World Champion Sébastien Ogier dropped out of the fight following a gearbox issue after Friday’s action.

Jari-Matti Latvala was in imperial form today to seal the 2015 Tour de Corse win in Ajaccio, birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte.

The rally’s early pace-setter had been M-Sport Ford/Michelin’s Elfyn Evans who survived the horrendous conditions that marred Friday and Saturday morning (SS2 and SS4 cancelled) to run in front until Saturday afternoon.

However, once the poor weather had passed, Latvala switched to the offensive and completed the second leg marginally in front, two seconds clear of Ford’s Welshman. The combination of a focused drive over the last day’s three tests (94.91km) and the proven efficiency of his Volkswagen Polo R WRC/Michelin then allowed him to cross the line 43 seconds clear of Evans.

It was a clearly a huge relief for the Finn whose Tour de Corse build-up started with a crash in pre-event testing which obviously didn’t help Volkswagen Motorsport’s preparations, but he bounced back to claim the 15^th victory of his career, his third of the season. He is also only the second Finn to win in Corsica after Markku Alèn (Lancia, 1983 and 1984).

“I am really pleased,” enthused the 30-year old after the final stage. “I won in France last year and now I’ve managed to do it again in Corsica. It’s great to win another asphalt rally to show that I’m competitive on every type of surface.”

Evans (2^nd) showed well when the conditions were at their worst after big storms swept across the Mediterranean island at the end of last week. The Welshman was as surprised as anyone to find himself in front but was then smart enough not to try to follow Latvala’s pace on the drier roads. It was the ideal way for the Ford driver to bounce back from his disastrous Rally Australia.

A late charge by Mikkelsen failed to deprive Evans of the silver medal in Corsica by 3.2s. The Norwegian ensured there were two Polo R WRCs on the podium again, though, after Ogier’s dream of celebrating his third world title on home soil was thwarted by a transmission problem on Day 1.

A long way back, the top six was rounded out by Citroën’s Kris Meeke (4^th, +1m33.4s), who never really looked comfortable on the Corsican stages, Hyundai’s fast-learner Hayden Paddon (5^th, +1m53.6s) and DS3 WRC driver Mads Ostberg (6^th, +1m59.8s).

In addition to Ogier, the rally’s other big victim was Kevin Abbring, another smart, quick learner. Hyundai’s fourth man figured in second place on Friday evening but fell back because of a poor set-up on Saturday and eventually crashed on the penultimate stage.

Frenchman Julien Maurin (Ford) defended his WRC2 lead to claim the class comfortably clear of Esapekka Lappi (Skoda, +20.9s) who will be glad of the points to help his title chances.

Quentin Gilbert (Citroën/Michelin) wrapped up the 2015 JWRC crown with a fine victory on his home event, while the 1993 Tour de Corse winner François Delecour was the easy RGT winner (Porsche/Michelin).

This Porsche 911 S was entombed in a barn for 27 years

A simple conversation about automotive tastes was all it took for this ultra-desirable 1967 Porsche 911 S to be revealed, after languishing for 27 years in a barn in Pennsylvania…

A second chance at life

The first-year Porsche 911 S is the darling of Porsche enthusiasts, so for Classic Driver dealer LBI Limited to discover this timewarp example sitting forlorn in a barn, following a chance introduction to a collector, was a real coup. It was purchased by its current owner in 1972, who thoroughly used and enjoyed the car for 16 years. In 1988 it was parked in a barn, where it stayed for 27 years, completely immobile. Having been recently discovered and wheeled from its tomb, the extent of the car’s beguiling patina was revealed. Each dink and dent tells a story: the sizeable indentation in the bootlid, for example – the result of a rear-end collision with a Pontiac Firebird. While some serious work would need to be undertaken to get the car roadworthy again, we like to think that its new custodian will preserve at least some of the car’s originality. 

  

Photos: Nick Zabrecky

You can find Philadelphia-based LBI Limited’s stock listed for sale in the Classic Driver Market.