The defending champions Antoine L’Estage and Nathalie Richard started the season on a high note on Saturday by winning the first round of the Canadian Rally Championship in Maniwaki, Quebec.
The pair experienced a perfect day as their Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X got them through the event without any kind of problems on the ice and the snow banks the Perce-Neige Rally is renowned for.
Closely tailored by their rivals early in the race, they increased their lead drastically when their closest followers were struck by a one-minute penalty.
L’Estage and Richard ultimately crossed the finish line six minutes before Bruno Carré and Yvan Loyal, second on a Subaru Impreza STI. Third were Ugo Desgreniers and Erik Kirby, also driving n a Subaru STI.
The front row favourites Pat Richard and his co-driver for the weekend Leanne Junnila finished in fourth place on a Subaru STI.
In fact, Subaru took every spot from second to 12th place. Maxime Losier and codriver Philippe Poirier were the second Mitsubishi team to cross the finish line, some 32 minutes behind the winners.
The second round of the Canadian Rally Championship, the Rocky Mountain Rally, is scheduled for May 27 in Calgary, Alberta.
The North-American champions will have a chance to race again until then. After their defeat last weekend, the team will try to get back on top of the Rally America standing at the end of this month, in Missouri, for the 100 Acre Wood.
The pair experienced a perfect day as their Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X got them through the event without any kind of problems on the ice and the snow banks the Perce-Neige Rally is renowned for.
Closely tailored by their rivals early in the race, they increased their lead drastically when their closest followers were struck by a one-minute penalty.
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| Nathalie Richard and Antoine L'Estage (Photo: Maxime Poirier) |
L’Estage and Richard ultimately crossed the finish line six minutes before Bruno Carré and Yvan Loyal, second on a Subaru Impreza STI. Third were Ugo Desgreniers and Erik Kirby, also driving n a Subaru STI.
The front row favourites Pat Richard and his co-driver for the weekend Leanne Junnila finished in fourth place on a Subaru STI.
In fact, Subaru took every spot from second to 12th place. Maxime Losier and codriver Philippe Poirier were the second Mitsubishi team to cross the finish line, some 32 minutes behind the winners.
The second round of the Canadian Rally Championship, the Rocky Mountain Rally, is scheduled for May 27 in Calgary, Alberta.
The North-American champions will have a chance to race again until then. After their defeat last weekend, the team will try to get back on top of the Rally America standing at the end of this month, in Missouri, for the 100 Acre Wood.