Campana, whose experience with the Michelin-shod Peugeot 207 S2000 car has been quite limited, has been consistently on the pace throughout the second day and finds himself just 24 seconds from a podium position heading into the final day. 

 

This second day was not without its challenges for Pierre and the Munaretto team after suffering rear suspension problems on the first loop of three stages, which affected the handling of the car. Nonetheless, Pierre was able to battle through the difficult conditions to post the fifth, sixth and fifth best times in SS3, SS4 and SS5 respectively to move into fifth place overall. At the service park, the team changed the rear shock absorbers to cure the problem before Pierre set off for the final stages of the day, a reverse formation of the three-stage loop from the morning. 

 

Unfortunately, Pierre was unable to capitalise on the improvements made to the car in SS6 after a collision for the course-opening zero car which was being driven by rally legend Ari Vatanen. Pierre was posting impressive times during his attempt at the stage before yellow flags brought his efforts to a halt. All times for the stage were subsequently cancelled with crews moving straight onto the 15.28km Taverna-Pont de Castirla seventh stage. 

 

The stage was to be Pierre’s highlight of the day as he, alongside co-pilot Sabrina de Castelli set the fourth time of the stage, right on the tails of the front-runners. The performance of the Peugeot 207 was just as Pierre had experienced in the recent shakedown event, and his continued impressive pace on the final stage of the day cemented his fifth place in the classification with six stages left to run on the final day tomorrow. 

 

Pierre Campana said: “I am extremely satisfied with how this second day has gone both in terms of the car performance and the team’s support. From the first stage of this morning’s first loop, the car did not feel right and there was a problem with the rear suspension. I had to find a way of driving round the problem and was still able to post top six times, but thankfully the service park arrived when it did. The team changed the rear shocks and straight away in stage six, I felt a big improvement. We were unable to complete the stage because of the unfortunate crash of the zero car. I’d like to send my very best wishes to Ari Vatanen for a quick recovery. The final two stages of the day went very well. We were fourth in SS7 and just four seconds off the pace of the front-runners in SS8. We are still taking each stage as it comes and respecting our plan, but things are going well so far. In the reversed loop this afternoon, the car felt as competitive as it did in the shakedown and I felt at ease and confident at the wheel. We head into the long final day in a strong position but we remain focussed on the job in hand and will just carry on doing our job calmly and professionally. It’s been an enjoyable home event for me and I hope to end on a high tomorrow, for me, my co-pilot, the team and all those people supporting us here.”  

 

SS9: Sarrola-Plage du Liamone (26.70kms), 09:10hrs 

SS10: Marato-Acqua Doria (22.47kms), 10:43hrs 

SS11: Bocognano-Bastelica (20.05kms), 13:47hrs 

SS12: Marato-Acqua Doria (22:47kms), 15:10hrs 

SS13: Bocognano-Bastelica (20.05kms), 18:48hrs 

SS14: Sarrola-Plage du Liamone (26.70kms), 20:10hrs 

 

For more information please visit www.pierrecampana.com or www.quadrasports.com