L’Estage, Richard Rally America champions

Posted on 30. Jul, 2010 by Dean in Features, RA 2010, Rally America, Rally News

Antoine L’Estage and Nathalie Richard are on their way through a successful 2010 rally season, winning the New England Forest rally and clinching the Rally America title. The team clinched the title in their first full season of competition in the US, breaking the four year streak of Travis Pastrana.

“To break Travis’ beautiful record in our first full season is great,” said L’Estage. “The reaction has been seen around the world, the news has been picked up in Poland and Great Britain.”

The team finished on the podium at every one of the six events on the Rally America calendar, including wins at STPR and New England.

“When we were leading the points after 100 Acre Wood, John (Buffum) said I had to go to the Western events,” said L’Estage, who finished second in each of the two opening rounds. The western swing proved critical for L’Estage who notched another second and a third.

Usual championship heavyweights could not match the reliability and consistency of the Rockstar team. Travis Pastrana suffered DNFs at two events over the season, effectively putting him out of contention. Missing two more events for other commitments made it impossible to launch any assault on a fifth title.

Ken Block and Alex Gelsomino struggled with their Ford Fiesta, winning the 100 Acre Wood rally, but failing to score anything other than start points at each of the remaining events.

Instead, Bill Bacon found himself moving up the standing, the result of consistent speed and four podium results. Bacon, in his first year running the whole Rally America season, finished the calendar in second place.

L’Estage also suffered problems through the season, nearly every event threatened by technical problems or flat tires.

“In Oregon, after a puncture we went 12/10ths, but we really only push when we have to,” said L’Estage. “We were not so confident at the start of the season, but we ended up spraying Champagne at every event.”

The lack of confidence is understandable given the heartbreak suffered by the team on the final stages of their bid for a third Canadian Rally Championship. Late rally drama at the Rally of the Tall Pines looked as if it may have secured the title for L’Estage and Richard when main rivals Pat Richard and co-driver Alan Ockwell broke their Transmission and had to use a regular street going gearbox. However, problems with the clutch system on the final stages stranded L’Estage, who watched not only competitors but both the Canadian and North American titles pass him by.

“People said it would make up for last year, but nothing will make up for last year,” said L’Estage. “After two Canadian championships and two North American titles, I really wanted to win all three. This shows where we are, the first Quebec based team to have done this.”

With the performances so far, L’Estage and Richard have nearly clinched the North American Rally Cup. Though currently done on points in the Canadian championship, they could still win their home title, making them the second team in history to accomplish the North American hat trick, Pat and Nathalie doing the same in 2004.

“I’ll toot my own horn and say I’m a good co-driver, but I have been lucky enough to be with great drivers,” said Nathalie Richard. “Titles might be partly in thanks to me, but not because of me.”

Looking ahead to the remainder of the Canadian season, the team is cautiously optimistic.

“If we’re going to have a hat trick, this is the year,” said Richard. “More seat time is great, and Antoine is really comfortable in the car. It’s not a new car any more.”

Before the team can think about the rest of the Canadian championship, they will compete at X Games, taking place July 31^st, 2010.

“Going to X Games as champion feels great. This time it is my car, my team, it’s going to be different than in the past,” said L’Estage.

Still, the event is going to be a big challenge. Teams with bigger budgets will heavily modify cars for the event and bring in drivers not typically seen in North American rally. Perhaps the biggest difference will be that Richard will not be in the car with L’Estage.

“It’s going to be weird for both of us,” said Richard. “I’ve never seen him compete from outside the car before. This time, I’ll be a full on team manager. I just want him to get comfortable being alone in the car.”

The team has found a new confidence after winning the title, and has likely built more confidence with key sponsors as a result of their win.

“We only had the budget for four US events, so we had to find money to do the extra two events,” said L’Estage, regarding the team’s position to head west. “Rockstar were able to put in more money to help us with the extra two Rally America events.”

L’Estage has often pointed out that the team is not a factory backed effort.

“I compare what we do with what Petter Solberg is doing,” said L’Estage. “Sponsors give us money, but it is up to us to manage it, to make decisions. We may get help here and there but really, we’re just five people on the team, me, Nat, John and two crew guys. It feels great to be able to beat the factory teams.”

Once X Games is behind them, the team will focus their energies on the remainder of the Canadian Rally Championship. Mathematically, it is still possible for the team to win the title, but it will require wins at all the remaining events, and even then, the results will depend on how Pat Richard and current points leader Bruno Carre perform.

Be sure to watch Antoine and Nathalie take on X Games rally on Saturday July 31^st, 2010. Check your local provider for TV listings.

Photos courtesy of Coyote Rallye

Tags: Canadian Rally Championship, L'Estage, rally-america, richard, X Games