SIMON JEAN-JOSEPH ACHIEVES FIRST FRENCH RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP VICTORY FOR KUMHO

DOUBLE EUROPEAN CHAMPION SIMON JEAN-JOSEPH ACHIEVES FIRST FRENCH RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP VICTORY FOR KUMHO

Posted: May 8, 2011 11:33 AM

Though absent from the sport for two and half years following a water skiing accident, two-times European Rally Champion Simon Jean-Joseph stormed to victory on last weekend’s (April 30/May 1) Terre De l’Auxerrois rally at the wheel of a Kumho-shod Citroën Xsara WRC – Kumho’s first ever win in the French Rally Championship and Jean-Joseph’s third on this event.

Partnered by long-standing co-driver Jack Boyère and piloting a Petter Solberg-prepared Citroën, the Martinique driver was immediately on the pace, making the first six stages his own and ending the first day two minutes clear of his nearest rival. The shorter second leg proved to be more of a test for the former champion, with its bumpy, slippery grass stages. However, he was still able to achieve overall victory by over two minutes from the Pirelli-equipped Peugeot 307 WRC of Paul Chieusse/Philippe Guellerin.

Clearly delighted with the result, Jean-Joseph took the time to thank all members of the Solberg Engineering team individually and said,
“I’m very happy to have shared this event with guys who are as enthusiastic as they are professional. All of them have at least 15 years’ experience in motorsport, and I was able to count on a Xsara WRC that was fine-tuned to perfection. I’m also delighted to have scored Kumho’s first victory in the French Championship.”

Said Kumho’s European Motorsport Manager Steve Thompson,
“We are used to success at all levels of UK rallying, but outright victory in a round of the French Gravel Championship is a pleasing new experience for us. Jean-Joseph’s feedback on our R900 gravel tyres was very positive. Moreover, he was not the only driver to bring us success on the event, as Hervé Gaidoz (Subaru Impreza STI), Sébastien Guibert (Suzuki Swift) and David Gérard (Citroën C2) all won their respective classes on our tyres. A good weekend indeed!”