From the team's press release
Since claiming victory at November's Rally of the Tall Pines, the last round of the Canadian Rally Championship, the off-season for Antoine L'Estage and his co-driver, Nathalie Richard, has not been dormant.
The duo from St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec was honoured at the CARS annual banquet in Quebec as 2007 Canadian and North American Rally Champions.
The following week, their Concerto Yokohama Hyundai Tiburon was one of the stars at the manufacturer's spectacular booth in the Montreal Auto Show.
Only days later, the Concerto team and rally legend/car preparer John Buffum worked double time in order to attend and win Michigan's Sno*Drift Rally, the first event in the Rally America championship.
With a victory already in the bank, the team set the wheels in motion in their hunt for a third consecutive Canadian title as well as back-to-back North American titles.
"It's been a very busy January for us, commented Antoine. The win was doubly sweet, not only because it is a great start to the season but also because it was a good shakedown for the Canadian championship debut this weekend in Maniwaki, Quebec.
For Maniwaki, all that was needed mechanically was general check-up. As the longest rally of the season and with some of the longest stages we'll compete on all year, Perce-Neige is an endurance event.
The Canadian championship consists of only six rounds, and therefore the result of each rally is extremely important. Our team's goal is to accumulate the maximum points possible at each and every event."
To maintain the titles they acquired last year, L'Estage and Richard may need to aim for perfection in 2008. Each event needs to be perfectly prepared for with no stone left unturned. The slightest error could have a huge impact on the overall championship standings.
Since claiming victory at November's Rally of the Tall Pines, the last round of the Canadian Rally Championship, the off-season for Antoine L'Estage and his co-driver, Nathalie Richard, has not been dormant.
The duo from St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec was honoured at the CARS annual banquet in Quebec as 2007 Canadian and North American Rally Champions.
The following week, their Concerto Yokohama Hyundai Tiburon was one of the stars at the manufacturer's spectacular booth in the Montreal Auto Show.
Only days later, the Concerto team and rally legend/car preparer John Buffum worked double time in order to attend and win Michigan's Sno*Drift Rally, the first event in the Rally America championship.
With a victory already in the bank, the team set the wheels in motion in their hunt for a third consecutive Canadian title as well as back-to-back North American titles.
"It's been a very busy January for us, commented Antoine. The win was doubly sweet, not only because it is a great start to the season but also because it was a good shakedown for the Canadian championship debut this weekend in Maniwaki, Quebec.
For Maniwaki, all that was needed mechanically was general check-up. As the longest rally of the season and with some of the longest stages we'll compete on all year, Perce-Neige is an endurance event.
The Canadian championship consists of only six rounds, and therefore the result of each rally is extremely important. Our team's goal is to accumulate the maximum points possible at each and every event."
To maintain the titles they acquired last year, L'Estage and Richard may need to aim for perfection in 2008. Each event needs to be perfectly prepared for with no stone left unturned. The slightest error could have a huge impact on the overall championship standings.