Philippe Bugalski, a year ago already

“Your smile is always with us…”. It is with these few sober words that Citroën Racing today paid tribute to Philippe Bugalski, who died a year ago, at the age of 49. Great figure of rally French, he suddenly disappeared on August 10, 2012 after an accidental fall at his home.

Author of a great career at national level, which saw him win three French championship titles consecutively from 1998 to 2000, each time at the wheel of a Citroën Xsara Kit-Car, and 31 victories, the man nicknamed the “Bug” definitely made history by becoming the first driver to make the chevron brand triumph in WRC. It was in 1999, during the Catalonia rally, again on the Xsara Kit-Car. A feat that the Vichyssois would repeat at the following meeting, during the Tour de Corse, to win his second, and final, victory at the highest level. Subsequently tasked with making the first laps of the Xsara WRC, Philippe Bugalski was to be one of the linchpins of Citroën Racing, of which we know the extent of the successes which would be won a few years later?

One year later, AUTOhebdo has a special thought for his family and loved ones,