Antoine Estage: A great champion Quebecois disregarded
Last weekend, Antoine L'Estage of St-Jean-sur-Richelieu participated in Rally Challenge with a new co-driver for the first time in several years.
North American and Canadian Rally Champion in 2012, Anthony was singing to attack a new record for wins with his right was a co-pilot browser prompts the Irishman Karl Atkinson who had been called to replace Nathalie Richard of Halifax, unavailable for personal reasons for this third round of six counting the Canadian Championship in 2013 aboard his Mitsubishi Evo X-2011 Open 4WD class, powerful four wheel drive.
Antoine, the Canadian Championship debuted in February with Rally Perce-Neige Maniwaki in the region in the Haute-Gatineau before move in Gaspesie in June for the 36th edition of the Rallye Baie des Chaleurs he won by establishing a new record of five wins this event.
In May, the Estage Nathalie Richard involved with the Oregon Trail Rally with Mitsubishi Lancer WRC prepared by British team MML Sports. The duo was part of a five tests Rally America on this world-class car (WRC = World Rally Championship). Unfortunately, a bete accident ended in this project, the Mitsubishi Lancer WRC having been badly damaged in a rare track output for tandem L'Estage / Richard.
Then comes the Defi September before beginning to resume later in the fall with the Rocky Mountain Rally and the Pacific Forest Rally in British Columbia and finally fenced the season Tall Pine in the area of Bancroft, Ontario.
L'Estage was already victorious Challenge six times in 2005, 2006 and 2007 but he had let escape victory has its eternal rival Pat Richard in 2008 and then resume its dominance ordeal 2009 to 2011 inclusive, for a total of 6 wins. At the launch of the 2013 edition of Friday morning 8:00 in the difficult very special Moncalm south with a length of 11.80 kilometers he won with 9 seconds ahead of the official driver Pat Richard Team Subaru , L'Estage was the absolute record of victories Defi.
As head of the first stage until the arrival, Team Rockstar / Concerto dominated the event from beginning to end to finish with a lead of over a minute on Team Patrick Richard and Rob Fagg ( Subaru) and more than 7 minutes on the team of Max Riddle and Darren Garrod and Subaru WRX also in Open 4WD class.
This victory is the fortieth gain career for Rockstar pilot and first for L'Estage-Atkinson for whom it is his very first victory all categories on the North American continent.
"Everything is going beautifully for us. Accommodation with Karl was quick and we dominated the event, winning 19 of the 23 special explains Antoine L'Estage "adding:" Rally Challenge is a series of relatively short steps, we must be the best of the first course on Friday morning. It is the need to make a difference and that is exactly what we managed to do. The roads were rough but I have strong attack and confidently, knowing that with our Yokohama tires I had no fear of puncture. This advance taking the first course, we eventually have to manage, but release the pressure. "
For the Irish Karl Atkinson, it was a first participation in Rally Challenge title and Antoine L'Estage co-pilot, replacing Nathalie: "I'm super happy! Thank you to Anthony and Team Rockstar trusting me "Has he said.
L'Estage at this time five North American titles (2007, 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2012), five Canadians (2006, 2007, 2010, 2012), an American (2010) and 40 wins all-categories in Canada and the United States.
Anthony participated in the 2013 season in the United States (Rally America) and Canadian Championship thanks to the support of Rockstar Energy Drink, Windows Concerto, Mitsubishi Canada, Yokohama Tires, Drenth Motorsport Gearboxes, Energie Cardio, Formica Group, VP Racing Fuels, Alpinestars , Exe-Tc Suspensions, Driver's Edge Autosport, and Libra Racing.
For more information on the team or the rally in general, visit the drive to www.antoinelestage.com
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