Rising rally talent Pierre Campana will contest the centenary edition of Rallye Monte-Carlo next week, aiming to improve on the spectacular second place finish he achieved in the IRC 2WD Cup section of the event last season.

Campana, 25, took his Ellip6-backed Renault Clio R3 to the runner-up spot in the two-wheel-drive class of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge season opener in January 2010. Held on ice and snow-coated mountain roads, Campana belied his lack of experience by blending raw speed with caution to claim a podium finish.

The result was the start of an impressive 2010 season for Campana, who starred in both the IRC 2WD Cup, Clio R3 Trophy in Europe and Italy.

Campana returns for his second Rallye Monte-Carlo start and will once again pilot a Clio R3 for the Italian Munaretto squad with backing from French simulation company Ellip6. Sabrina De Castelli, Campana’s long-term navigator, will continue to navigate. 

“It’s a very hard event because the weather keeps changing and you never know how much grip you will have from one corner to the next with all the ice that there can be on the road,” said Corsican Campana. “But that is part of the challenge and the prestige of taking part on the rally, particularly the centenary edition, is very important to a young driver like me.”
   
Following three days of reconnaissance from Saturday 15 until Monday 17 January, this year’s Rallye Monte-Carlo gets underway on Wednesday 19 January with the first of 13 special stages totally 337.06 kilometres.

Day one features four taxing stages in the Ardeche and Haute Loire regions of France, including the longest two tests of the rally, the 36.87-kilometre Le Moulinon-Antraigues stage and the 41.06-kilometre Burzet-St Martial run, which are separated by a tyre change halt in Vals les Bains. Both stages are part of Rallye Monte-Carlo legend and return to the itinerary after several years’ absence.

Thursday’s action features two loops of mountainous stages run twice north-east of Valence and separated by a service stop in the city. Following a final service halt in Valence on Friday morning, crews begin the 390-kilometre journey to Monaco via the last Drome stage, Montauban sur l’Ouveze-Eygalayes. Upon arrival in Monaco, cars enter parc ferme while the drivers and co-drivers are able to rest before the four night stages in the Alpes Maritimes.

Q+A with Pierre Campana

How confident are you of a strong result on Rallye Monte-Carlo?
“I have experience of last year, which is very important. I also have a good team, a good sponsor, a good car and a good co-driver so I am confident of finishing on the podium in the IRC 2WD Cup. But I know the competition will be very strong so there are no guarantees.”

What is your programme for the remainder of 2011?
“At the moment we are still trying to find the sponsorship to complete the season. Ellip6 has been a very good partner for us and thanks to them we have been able to do many rallies and get lots of experience in 2010. They are again supporting me for this Monte Carlo and of course I will never thank them enough for what they did and hope to repay them with a strong showing next week. From there, I have to look for other options.”

How important would winning the IRC 2WD Cup be to you?
“It would be the highlight of my career for sure. Rallye Monte-Carlo is probably the most famous rally in the world and a good result on the event can make a big difference to your career. It would be a dream and I will work very hard to achieve my dream.”

Event timetable:

Day one (Wednesday 19 January)
SS1: Le Moulinon – Antraigues* (36.87kms), 10:05hrs
Tyre Service: Vals (0:10hrs), 10:55hrs
SS2: Burzet – St Martial* (41.06kms), 11:40hrs
SS3: St Bonnet Le Froid – St Bonnet Le Froid* (25.22kms), 14:11hrs
Tyre Service: Lalouvesc (0:15hrs), 14:56hrs
SS4: St Bonnet Le Froid – St Bonnet Le Froid* (25.22kms), 16:20hrs
Service A: Valence (0:45hrs), 18:15hrs

Day two (Thursday 20 January):
Service B: Valence (0:20hrs), 11:00hrs
SS5: St Jean en Royans – Font D’Urle* (23.05kms), 12:23hrs
SS6: Cimetiere de Vassieux – Col de Gaudissart* (24.13kms), 13:04hrs
Service C: Valence (0:20hrs), 14:44hrs (regroup at 14:29hrs)
SS7: St Jean en Royans – Font D’Urle* (23.05kms), 16:07hrs
SS8: Cimetiere de Vassieux – Col de Gaudissart* (24.13kms), 16:48hrs
Service D: Valence (0:45hrs), 18:13hrs

Day three (Friday 21-Saturday 22 January):
Service E: Valence (0:20hrs), 06:30hrs
SS9: Montauban sur l’Ouveze – Eygalayes (29.89kms), 09:08hrs
Monaco Parc Ferme: 4:45hrs), 13:53hrs
Service F: Monaco (0:23hrs), 17:44hrs
SS10: Moulinet – La Bollene Vesubie* (23.41kms), 19:15hrs
SS11: Lantosque – Luceram* (18.81kms), 19:58hrs
Service G: Monaco (0:20hrs), 21:57hrs (regroup at 21:10hrs)
SS12: Moulinet – La Bollene Vesubie* (23.41kms), 23:25hrs
SS13: Lantosque – Luceram* (18.81kms), 00:08hrs
Service H: Monaco (0:10hrs), 01:20hrs
Prize-giving: Place du Palais Princier, 11:00hrs
* = Live on Eurosport.

For more information:   
 
www.pierrecampana.com
www.quadrasports.com
media@quadrasports.com
www.ellip6.com

Ajaccio, 13 January, 2011