Frenchman François Delecour’s decision to use studded tires on Thursday afternoon’s loop of stages proved inspired after the 48-year-old Frenchman claimed his first stage victory on the centenary edition of Rallye Monte-Carlo.
Driving a privateer Peugeot 207, Delecour, who won Rallye Monte-Carlo in 1994, leaped from eighth to second on the overall leader board, 28.7s behind Peugeot France driver Bryan Bouffier.
Bouffier survived two spins to complete the snow-covered 24.13-kilometre stage with the second fastest time and will head into the final day of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge qualifier in first place.
Guy Wilks has moved into fourth overall behind Freddy Loix. Stéphane Sarrazin slipped to fifth with former leader Juho Hänninen dropping to a distant sixth in his factory Škoda Fabia S2000, 2m36.0s off the lead after a bad tire choice.
Overall positions after Day 2:
1 Bryan Bouffier (Peugeot 207 S2000) 2h14m38.1s
2 François Delecour (Peugeot 207 S2000) +28.7s
3 Freddy Loix (Škoda Fabia S2000) +1m06.3s
4 Guy Wilks (Peugeot 207 S2000) +1m21.2s
5 Stéphane Sarrazin (Peugeot 207 S2000) +1m41.8s
6 Juho Hänninen (Škoda Fabia S2000) +2m36.0s
7 Petter Solberg (Peugeot 207 S2000) +3m49.8s
8 Nicolas Vouilloz (Škoda Fabia S2000) +5m31.7s
Driving a privateer Peugeot 207, Delecour, who won Rallye Monte-Carlo in 1994, leaped from eighth to second on the overall leader board, 28.7s behind Peugeot France driver Bryan Bouffier.
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| James Bouffier, Peugeot (Photo: Peugeot) |
Bouffier survived two spins to complete the snow-covered 24.13-kilometre stage with the second fastest time and will head into the final day of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge qualifier in first place.
Guy Wilks has moved into fourth overall behind Freddy Loix. Stéphane Sarrazin slipped to fifth with former leader Juho Hänninen dropping to a distant sixth in his factory Škoda Fabia S2000, 2m36.0s off the lead after a bad tire choice.
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| Nicolas Vouilloz - Skoda Fabia (Photo: S PRESSE, Claude Saulnier) |
Overall positions after Day 2:
1 Bryan Bouffier (Peugeot 207 S2000) 2h14m38.1s
2 François Delecour (Peugeot 207 S2000) +28.7s
3 Freddy Loix (Škoda Fabia S2000) +1m06.3s
4 Guy Wilks (Peugeot 207 S2000) +1m21.2s
5 Stéphane Sarrazin (Peugeot 207 S2000) +1m41.8s
6 Juho Hänninen (Škoda Fabia S2000) +2m36.0s
7 Petter Solberg (Peugeot 207 S2000) +3m49.8s
8 Nicolas Vouilloz (Škoda Fabia S2000) +5m31.7s