Antoine L'Estage, four-time North American rally champion, has proved his mettle many times over in North American rallying. But it wasn't always clean sailing. Meet the man who puts the 'P' in Passion.
Young Antoine grew up watching his father, Jacques, rallying. In no time, he had enough of spectating and wanted to try his hands at participating. Aged 21, he entered his first regional rally, in a Toyota Corolla and his debuts on the national stage soon followed. In 2001, he was rewarded with the Rookie of the Year title, driving in the Production 4 category.
Things were going well for L'Estage, the more he drove, the better he got. As his experience grew, so did his ambitions.
"Nobody gives it to you, you have to take it," says L'Estage. "I started producing results fairly quickly, but because I make my own luck. If you don't ask, you don't get."
To move to the bigger Open class in the Canadian Rally Championship, he needed a new car, and so went knocking on childhood hero's door, John Buffum.
"I remember going with my dad to the rallies. At that time, John was simply The Man", he explains.
In his days, Buffum racked up a record 117 national wins, a world record. As a car builder, he was in charge of the Hyundai Rally Team USA. Casual onlookers could easily spot why L'Estage elected to switch to an ex-factory Hyundai Elantra.
"Timing is everything", tells L'Estage. "And my timing with John was spot on." The sought-after rally legend was loosing his driver Paul Choiniere to retirement, and so was looking for a new prospect.
After a first national title in 2006, L'Estage stopped being a customer. Slowly but surely, he became Buffum's protégé.
"I have to pinch myself, it feels so much like a dream!", he admits.
Young Antoine grew up watching his father, Jacques, rallying. In no time, he had enough of spectating and wanted to try his hands at participating. Aged 21, he entered his first regional rally, in a Toyota Corolla and his debuts on the national stage soon followed. In 2001, he was rewarded with the Rookie of the Year title, driving in the Production 4 category.
Things were going well for L'Estage, the more he drove, the better he got. As his experience grew, so did his ambitions.
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| Antoine L'Estage at the Défi Rallye Ste-Agathe. (Photo: René Fagnan/Auto123.com) |
"Nobody gives it to you, you have to take it," says L'Estage. "I started producing results fairly quickly, but because I make my own luck. If you don't ask, you don't get."
To move to the bigger Open class in the Canadian Rally Championship, he needed a new car, and so went knocking on childhood hero's door, John Buffum.
"I remember going with my dad to the rallies. At that time, John was simply The Man", he explains.
In his days, Buffum racked up a record 117 national wins, a world record. As a car builder, he was in charge of the Hyundai Rally Team USA. Casual onlookers could easily spot why L'Estage elected to switch to an ex-factory Hyundai Elantra.
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| The Mitsubishi Lancer of L'Estage. (Photo: Andrew Snucins/WorldRallySport) |
"Timing is everything", tells L'Estage. "And my timing with John was spot on." The sought-after rally legend was loosing his driver Paul Choiniere to retirement, and so was looking for a new prospect.
After a first national title in 2006, L'Estage stopped being a customer. Slowly but surely, he became Buffum's protégé.
"I have to pinch myself, it feels so much like a dream!", he admits.