Monte-Carlo – Eric Camilli forced to abandon

While he was fighting for first place in WRC2, Eric Camilli made a mistake in the middle of the day. The damage to his Citroën C3 Rally2 could not be repaired and the Frenchman will not leave this Saturday.

Published on 21/01/2022 à 20:32

Loïc ROCCI

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Monte-Carlo – Eric Camilli forced to abandon

Eric Camilli will not make it to the end of Monte-Carlo. ©DPPI

Everything started superbly for Eric Camilli. Engaged this season in the WRC2 championship at the wheel of a Citroën C3 Rally2 from the Sainteloc team, the Niçois won in the two ES contested at night on the heights of Lucéram and the Col du Turini on Thursday.

Coming home as leader with 9″1 over Andreas Mikkelsen, Eric Camilli was smiling. With a loop of three special stages to be repeated twice, Friday offered 96,87 timed kilometers. Blaming himself for not having taken enough risks in the Col de la Couillole (SS3), the Frenchman saw the Norwegian come back to 6 seconds. The second section confirmed this trend with another 0″ conceded. In the section around Entrevaux, Eric made a mistake which ended his rally.

« We were on a rhythm between management and attack, he explained at the port of Monaco. On the descent, it was icy and when braking hidden on a left hairpin, I saw the ice, I braked, but it was too late. We shot straight and hit the rock in the wrong place. We were able to finish the stage, but we didn't have what we needed to repair it. I am very dejected. It's hard to go from leading WRC2 to 'I'm going home'. It is in fact mathematically impossible for me to take more than 3 minutes per special to hope to be among the 50 competitors who will have the right to do the Sunday stage. We will therefore not be able to try to score points in the Power Stage. We will come back stronger to Croatia. »

Forced to throw in the towel on the 2nd day, Eric Camilli will return to the WRC2 roads during the Croatia Rally, 2nd round of the season calendar, hoping to have a little more luck than in Monte-Carlo.

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Loïc ROCCI

Journalist specializing in rallying past, present and future... and with a southern accent

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