Super 2000s Race at Condroz

In an unusual rally-long battle at the Condroz Rally in Belgium this weekend, Bryan Bouffier and Freddy Loix enjoyed a remarkable fight - for the honour of fastest zero car.

Armed with the latest Super 2000 cars - respectively the prototype Peugeot 207 RCup and the VW Polo S2000 on its first appearance outside South Africa, these cars provided more than just enjoyment for the drivers and spectators. This was an opportunity for the FIA's newly-formed Permanent Bureau (announced at the World Motor Sport Council meeting on 18 October) to further study the relative performances of the Super 2000 and Group N specifications of car. Both Super 2000 and Group N will be eligible for the 2007 FIA Production car World Rally Championship.

Of the two Super 2000 cars, the Polo driven by veteran Belgian driver Freddy Loix was usually quicker than the 207 driven by the Frenchman, who had not competed on these stages before. Originally it was hoped that Loix would make the competition debut for the Polo in Europe but last-minute homologation delays prevented this from happening. The Peugeot had always been scheduled to appear in actual competition after 1st January 2007.

On virtually every stage of the rally, the quickest Group N was the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX of former J-WRC driver Larry Cols. This gave a steady yardstick to compare the relative performance of the heavier turbocharged Group N cars and the lighter, normally aspirated Super 2000s.

As it transpired, stage times recorded by the organisers for the zero cars indicated a remarkable similarity between the cars of Loix and Cols, both experienced over the stages. A spokesman for Rene Georges, the company running Loix' Polo, admitted the team had an advantage over Cols, in that they were permitted longer service intervals. He also said that as it had only received the car three weeks prior to the event and had one day useful testing, he felt that there was still potential to come but that the company was pleasantly surprised that the car was so competitive.

Unusual in another respect, the Condroz organisers allowed World Rally Cars to run on an FIA regional championship event, and these cars took the top three places, headed by Francois Duval in a Skoda Fabia WRC.

-WRC.com

Panizzi back at the wheel

Having parted company with Red Bull Skoda earlier this year, Gilles Panizzi has returned to his former home, Peugeot Sport, as a test driver at this time.

Last week he drove the prototype Peugeot S2000, formally called the Peugeot 207 RCup, in the south of France on its first official asphalt test. This follows successful gravel testing at Chateau Lastours with Sebastien Lindholm and resident Peugeot driver, Bryan Bouffier.

A heavy test programme for the car is planned, with the team returning to Chateau Lastours in July before another asphalt test, with two more separate tests scheduled for August.

There will be an official presentation by Peugeot in November but the car is not destined for active competition until 2007, when it will be run by importers' or private teams.

It was with Peugeot that Panizzi, then accompanied by his brother co-driver Herve, took his seven FIA World Rally Championship victories.

-FIA WRC