Var: Canivenq well placed

Guilaume Canivenq (Peugeot 207 S2000), with a good lead at the top of the French championship drivers' ranking, can see the end of the Rally du Var with optimism. Currently seventh, the Aveyron driver however had to deal with a puncture during SS7, losing more than a minute in the process. But Canivenq is still in a position to win the national crown, with three stages remaining on Sunday morning. His rivals, Patrick Henry and Manu Guigou, are third and ninth respectively.

At the head of the Rally, Sébastien and Séverine Loeb continued their demonstration aboard the Citroën C4 WRC, occupying the leading position since the opening of hostilities and setting the best times throughout the day. “ We rode well, commented the six-time world champion at the end of SS8, the last special of this second stage. The roads are very slippery but we have fun. These are beautiful roads. There is a good atmosphere with lots of people. Things are going very well with Séverine. »

However, the Loeb couple finally gave up first place at the start of the evening, due to the three-minute penalty inflicted on the duo of the Citroën C4 WRC, as well as on the Subaru Impreza WRC of Brice Tirabassi and Eric Clément, for an error timekeeping at the service park. It is therefore ultimately Pieter Tsjoen, third at the end of SS8, who inherits first place before the last day of this Rally. However, the recent Belgian champion was not confident at the end of the timed events. “ I don't know these specials, declared the winner of the Rally du Touquet. It's difficult. The notes come quickly. I have trouble understanding everything. I'm not used to mountain roads »

The new ranking, however, places the Belgian at the top of the standings, with around thirty seconds ahead of the Loeb couple and forty seconds over Patrick Henry (Peugeot 307 WRC), who returned to the podium after the penalty received by Brice Tirabassi. The two drivers fighting for the controls of the Super 2000 category therefore also move up one place: Stéphane Sarrazin (Peugeot 207 S2000), is 27 seconds behind Patrick Henry and 24 seconds ahead of Cédric Robert (Abarth Grande Punto S2000).

Brice Tirabassi therefore fell heavily and found himself sixth, ahead of Guillaume Canivenq, Dany Snobeck (Peugeot 307 WRC), Emmanuel Guigou (Renault Clio R3 Maxi), Marc Amourette (Citroën C2 S1600) and Pierre Campana (Renault Clio R3). As for the pilot of Formula 1 Robert Kubica (Renault Clio R3), he occupies 26th place, more than six minutes behind Manu Guigou, leader in the category.