Simon Jean-Joseph and Jack Boyère, who are currently second in the 2007 European Rally Championship, will line up for the start of the Rallye d’Antibes with a real chance of clinching this year’s ERC crown. They will contest the tenth and final round of the series with the Citroën C2 Super 1600 prepared by PH Sport with assistance from Citroën Sport technicians.
The all-asphalt Rallye d’Antibes will be an ideal setting for the championship’s finale with fine weather often making the Côte d’Azur a very pleasant part of the world to be in at this time of year. That said, although the conditions promise to be mild on the Riviera, they could well spring a surprise or two up in the mountains where the stages take place. The programme includes three long legs, each of which features two loops of three stages, including some of the region’s awesome classics such as the Turini, the Col de Bleine, Couillole and the Col de l’Ablé.
“It’s like a Monte Carlo Rally run in the autumn, ” jokes Simon Jean-Joseph who benefits from vast experience of these tests which offer remarkable variety since they range from wide, fast and smooth (SS8/12, SS14/17) to twisty and bumpy (SS7/10, SS13/16). “The Rallye d’Antibes is a very difficult event, ” continues the Citroën driver. “There are more than 300km of stages, some of which will be run at night. I can’t wait to have a go at the Col de Bleine in the dark! Some of the stages are technically very demanding and the experience Jack and I have of them is obviously good for us. We also know that we will be able to count on the speed and reliability of the Citroën C2 Super 1600 on asphalt. “
Simon Jean-Joseph has a footing on the provisional ERC podium and goes to Antibes with a real chance of securing a second European title after his crown in 2004. “It won’t be easy, ” he warns, “but we intend to give it our very best shot. We can’t afford to leave anything to chance and we will need to be competitive from start to finish if we are to score as many points as possible, especially the bonus points that are up for grabs at the end of each leg. As we have done all year, we face stiff competition, so it will be something very special if we succeed. “
“The results that Simon Jean-Joseph, Jack Boyère and the Citroën C2 Super 1600 have notched up since the beginning of the year have put them in the running for the European Championship title, ” explains Citroën Sport’s Customer Competition Manager Yves Matton. “That’s a tremendous exploit. The combination of their ability on asphalt and the potential of their Citroën has frequently enabled them to take the fight to rivals competing in four-wheel drive machinery. What they have achieved on the loose with the C2 Super 1600 is even more remarkable. It’s going to be tough but everyone is extremely fired up and will do everything they can to help Simon and Jack rise to the challenge. ”
| 
|