After earlier visits to Croatia and Poland, the European Rally Championship’s calendar takes competitors into Eastern Europe once more, this time for the Rally Bulgaria. Continuing their ERC campaign, Simon Jean-Joseph and his co-driver Jack Boyère will be at the start with their Citroën C2 Super 1600.
The all-asphalt Rally Bulgaria is the sixth round of the 2007 European Rally Championship and is based in Borovetz, a popular tourist destination in the Rila Mountains which culminate in the 2,925-metre Musala peak. In this highly forested region, the local roads seem to have been made for use as rally stages.
“It’s a very interesting event set to a lovely backdrop, ” says Simon Jean-Joseph who has good experience of this round thanks to two previous participations, both of which saw him secure second place. “One of the features of the Rally Bulgaria is the fact that we do the tests in one direction on the first day and in the other the next. There aren’t many stages but some of them are around 30km in length and can spring a few surprises. The aging asphalt gives varying levels of grip and the profile of the roads is also quite varied, with a blend of slow, fast and technically demanding portions. I must say it’s an event I really enjoy. “
After setting the scene, Simon makes no secret about his objective in Bulgaria: “I will have no other choice than all-out attack! I had trouble finding the right pace in Ypres, but it will be important to hit the ground running in Bulgaria. On paper, our mission promises to be quite tough against our numerous rivals in four-wheel drive cars. Even so, I am convinced we stand a real chance with the Citroën C2 Super 1600 and I know we will be able to count on the services of PH Sport which runs the car along with staff from Citroën Sport. The C2 has already shown its speed on sealed surfaces and I hope to put its potential and reliability to maximum effect to score valuable ERC points. For that, if luck finally decides to come down on our side, we will need to finish both legs on the podium. “
Citroën Sport’s Customer Competition Manager Yves Matton echoes the comments of Simon Jean-Joseph: “A strong result in Bulgaria is vital if we want to keep our chances of figuring well in the ERC alive. For that, Simon will be able to count on good previous knowledge of the event and also on the potential of the Citroën C2 Super 1600. The stages are very similar to those found in Croatia where Simon and the C2 came third after a puncture put paid to their genuine chances of victory. This time, it will be important to convert their performanceinto a top result. “
The 2007 Rally Bulgaria in brief… * The 38 th Rally Bulgaria counts toward both the European Rally Championship (Round 6 of 10) and the Bulgarian national championship.
* The rally’s facilities are based in Borovetz. Event HQ and the Media Room are based in the Rila Hotel. The service park uses Dolna Banya Airport, 24.28km east of the parc ferme which is itself near the Rila Hotel. Borovetz is 70km south-east of Sofia and 60km from the Bulgarian capital’s airport.
* The time difference between Bulgaria (GMT +2) is one hour compared with CET. When it is 8pm in Paris, it is 9pm in Sofia. The local currency is the lev (1 lev = €0.51).
* The total length of the 2007 event is 735.89km, including 286.53km divided into 13 stages (9 different).
* Recce is scheduled for Tuesday July 3 (from 08.00 until 12.00 – SS1, 2 and 3 – and from 13.00 until 19.00 - SS4/6 and SS5/7) and Wednesday July 4 (from 08.00 until 12.00 – SS 8/10 and 9/11 – and from 13.00 until 19.00 - SS12 and 13). Two passes are authorised at a maximum speed of 60kph.
* Shakedown takes place on Thursday July 5 (from 12.00 until 17.00). The 4km test stage is located near the village of Beli Iskar, 20km from Borovetz. A special shakedown service park will be set up near the Jastrebetz Hotel.
* Tyres: There are no quantity restrictions concerning tyres. Crews are authorised to carry two spares if they wish. Mousse run-flat systems are not permitted.
* Just one spare gearbox is permitted for two-wheel drive, normally-aspirated cars. Engines are sealed.
* Crews will be able to make use of the SuperRally ruling.
* Leg 1 (Friday July 6 and Saturday July 7): 407.91km, including 147.10km divided into 7 stages (5 different). Rally starts in front of the Rila Hotel at 19.01. SS1 (Borovetz, 2.95km). Service A (19.39, 20 minutes). Parc ferme from 20.39. Saturday July 7: cars leave parc ferme at 08.30. Service B (08.58, 20 minutes). SS2 (Muhovo, 28.89km) and SS3 (Slavovitza, 18.24km). Regroup (11.02, 15 minutes). Service C (11.17, 20 minutes). SS4 (Sestrimo 1, 30.11km) and SS5 (Yundola 1, 18.40km). Regroup (13.50, 30 minutes). Service D (14.20, 20 minutes). SS6 (Sestrimo 2) and SS7 (Yundola 2). Service E (16.53, 45 minutes). Parc ferme from 18.08.
* Leg 2 (Sunday July 8): 328.95km, including 135.51km divided into 6 stages (4 different). Cars leave parc ferme at 07.30. Service F (07.58, 20 minutes). SS8 (Magistrala 1, 18.24km) and SS9 (Tzerovo 1, 29.08km). Regroup (10.02, 50 minutes). Service G (10.52, 20 minutes). SS10 (Magistrala 2) and SS11 (Tzerovo 2). Regroup (12.56, 15 minutes). Service H (13.11, 20 minutes). SS12 (Belovo, 18.60km) and SS13 (Belmeken, 22.27km). Service I (15.42, 20 minutes). Finish ceremony from 16.32. • Note: Simon and Jack previously competed in this event in 2004 (2 • nd ) and 2005 (2 nd ). * Citroën has already won in Bulgaria when Bruno Thiry/Stéphane Prévot came first there with their Citroën Xsara Kit-Car in 2000.
* Another Citroën C2 Super 1600 has been entered by Bulgaria’s Georgi Janakiev/Petar Sivov. Frenchman Laurent Viana and his co-driver Isabelle Galmiche and Bulgaria’s Georgi Gvozdeikove/Vasko Hristovhave entered C2-R2s.
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