Cuoq is already widening the gap

At the end of the first stage of the Terre de Langres rally, the discipline found its champion: Jean-Marie Cuoq easily took command, ahead of two Group N Mitsubishis, very well driven by Ferrier and Privé.

Published on 25/07/2009 à 19:35

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After a slightly behind first lap, following an injector problem on his 307 WRC, Jean-Marie Cuoq was third in the general classification. But once the problem was repaired, the former three-time French gravel rally champion smashed the records on the second pass in the day's two SS stages, and finished the first stage well in the lead.

Christophe Ferrier (Mitsubishi Evo 10) and Thomas Privé (Mitsubishi Evo 9) were relegated to more than a minute, one having experienced some problems with his ??bang bang?? while the other lost 35 seconds during a ??straight?? in a field. Dominique Bruyneel, the current championship leader, was relegated to fourth place following a disconnected turbo hose on his Subaru Impreza WRC.

Finally, after coming so close to the feat? he was third overall with his little Citroën C2 R2? Bryan Bouffier fell five places overall when he suffered a puncture in the final special of the day. But in any case his performance made an impression?