Bugalski wins Rallye Deutschland.
After trailing German amateur Armin Kremer early on in Rallye Deutschland, Philippe Bugalski moved his Citroen Xsara into the lead midway through the opening leg of the event - and was never headed.
The Frenchman took control with fastest time on five of the seven second leg tests, to win by 4mins 27.2secs. Peugeot's World champion Marcus Gr?nholm was his closest challenger - but when the Finn had to stop to change a puncture on the second afternoon, his victory chances had gone.
After trailing German amateur Armin Kremer early on in Rallye Deutschland, Philippe Bugalski moved his Citroen Xsara into the lead midway through the opening leg of the event - and was never headed.
The Frenchman took control with fastest time on five of the seven second leg tests, to win by 4mins 27.2secs. Peugeot's World champion Marcus Gr?nholm was his closest challenger - but when the Finn had to stop to change a puncture on the second afternoon, his victory chances had gone.
Second looked likely for Gronholm but a sixth gear accident on the opening stage of the final leg cost two minutes and he slipped behind the battling Ford duo of Red Bull-backed Raimund Baumschlager and World Rally regular Francois Delecour, just 4.9sec behind his fellow Ford driver after three days of asphalt competition in south-west Germany.
Armin Schwarz retired his Skoda from fourth on the opening stage of the second day with a broken propshaft.
Results - Rallye Deucthland.
1. P Bugalski/J-P ChiaroniCitro?n Xsara3hr 23min 12.7sec
2. R Baumschlager/K WichaFord Focus3hr 27min 39.9sec
3. F Delecour/D Grataloup Ford Focus RS 3hr 27min 44.8sec
4. M Gr?nholm/T RautiainenPeugeot 2063hr 28min 02.6sec
5. M Kahle/D SchneppenheimSeat Cordoba3hr 28min 38.7sec
6. A Kremer/F BerssenToyota Corolla 3hr 29min 28.2sec
Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years and has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.
