North-American rally champions Antoine L'Estage and Nathalie Richard and 41 other teams are in Maniwaki today for the first round of the 2011 Canadian Rally Championship.
After winning the Canadian, Americain and North-American titles in 2010, the Quebeckers will have a lot to do to remain on top of the standings this year. They will have to face, once again this year, rival Patrick Richard who co-drives with Leanne Junnila today, on Subaru STi.
Already last week-end, the couple fell behind from last year's result has they were unable to see the end of the Sno*Drift Rally, in Michigan, a rally they had won in 2010.
The 46th edition of Rally Perce-Neige was fired off this morning, at 9:30 a.m. and is set to go on until tonight, with checkered flag expected around 11 p.m. It is the longest rally of the season; an event the duo has won in 2006, 2008 and 2009, but not in 2010.
In fact, this rally was the only one L'Estage and Richard were unable to succeed in last year with no points at all in the "White Adventure", as it is often nicknamed. They will most certainly want to begin the season on a higher note this time around and win it for a fourth time.
The Perce-Neige has a reputation of being to say the least snowy if not icy, making it very hard for drivers not to fall into one of its (many) traps.
The defending champions are not the only Mitsubishi drivers on track this week-end. A total of 10 Mitsubishi Lancer Teams - including five EVO - are competing against 32 others in the event.
Subaru is also back in 2011 for a front-row fight that promises to be exciting. Nissan, Lada, Audi, VW, Honda and Ford are also manufacturers that are represented this week-end, in Maniwaki.
After winning the Canadian, Americain and North-American titles in 2010, the Quebeckers will have a lot to do to remain on top of the standings this year. They will have to face, once again this year, rival Patrick Richard who co-drives with Leanne Junnila today, on Subaru STi.
Already last week-end, the couple fell behind from last year's result has they were unable to see the end of the Sno*Drift Rally, in Michigan, a rally they had won in 2010.
The 46th edition of Rally Perce-Neige was fired off this morning, at 9:30 a.m. and is set to go on until tonight, with checkered flag expected around 11 p.m. It is the longest rally of the season; an event the duo has won in 2006, 2008 and 2009, but not in 2010.
In fact, this rally was the only one L'Estage and Richard were unable to succeed in last year with no points at all in the "White Adventure", as it is often nicknamed. They will most certainly want to begin the season on a higher note this time around and win it for a fourth time.
The Perce-Neige has a reputation of being to say the least snowy if not icy, making it very hard for drivers not to fall into one of its (many) traps.
The defending champions are not the only Mitsubishi drivers on track this week-end. A total of 10 Mitsubishi Lancer Teams - including five EVO - are competing against 32 others in the event.
Subaru is also back in 2011 for a front-row fight that promises to be exciting. Nissan, Lada, Audi, VW, Honda and Ford are also manufacturers that are represented this week-end, in Maniwaki.