ERC: Future World Rallye Fiat Dindar summary

Rallye Fiat Dindar - Pirelli (La Reunion Island) - June 29 & 30th 2002

Unia puts up a fierce resistance to Payet.

At the wheel of a Toyota Corolla WRC tuned by Belgian squad Future World, Malik Unia and Gilles Stasica have offered a determined fight to winner Payet (206 WRC) during last Rallye Fiat Dindar - Pirelli. Thanks to his second position, Unia is still leading La Reunion Rally Championship after round 5.

Saturday morning, Payet took best time in SS1 but Unia answered with in SS2. Payet ended leg 1 with a margin of 12 seconds while Unia was complaining about under-steering. Trying new set-up, Unia was quickest than Payet in SS5 and SS6. Payet set the pace in SS7 but went off in SS8 where he lost 19"... and the leadership of the rally. Right side of the front transmission was broken. Unia - leader - and Payet were now separated by 3", which left both drivers hungry for the final stage fighting hard to take the win. Signing 8'24, Payet won the rally while Future World driver realised 8'30.

Since the beginning of the season, Unia has to fight very hard on each event, told Gérard Magniette team-manager of team Future World. The struggle between him and Payet is more and more exciting. With so short rallies, it's very important to avoid mistakes and, thank to his three wins, Unia keeps leadership of the championship.

Next round of La Reunion Rally Championship is the Tour Auto (Augustus 1st to 4th). Leading local championship, Future World is also classified second from the European Rally Championship (Kuzaj - PL) and has extended his Belgian Rally Championship leadership during last Ypres Westhoek Rally (Theunissen - NL).

Classification

1. Payet-Payet (F/F) (Peugeot 206 WRC) in 1h07'21"1; 2. Unia-Stasica (F/F) (Toyota Corolla WRC Future World) at 0'03"3; 3. Gany-Omarjee (Peugeot 306 Maxi) at 1'32"1; 4. Boyer-Hoarau (F/F) (Renault Maxi Megane) at 3'35"2; 5. Law Hang (F) (Citroën Xsara Kit-car) at 3'56.

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