Future World - Tour Auto La R?union summary

33rd Tour Auto (La Reunion Island) - August 2nd & 3rd 2002

Surprising release for Gany.

More than 10 years after his first win, Gany (306 Maxi) has won again the Tour de la Réunion, major meeting of the local rally championship. Gany took victory while Payet (206 WRC) - classified 12th - had to face to engine problems. Leading the rally, Unia (Corolla WRC) retired in SS4 but the Future World driver has still 282 points at the head of the 2002 points table, with Payet on 258.

At the wheel of a Future World Corolla WRC, Unia took the lead in SS1. After cancellation of SS2 (computation of the times), Unia extended his leadership in SS3. He has to retire in SS4 because of a broken differential. Payet went off in SS3 and ended day one 48 seconds behind Gany. Payet failed to compete with Gany when his 206's engine began to misfire due to a turbo problem (SS9). Four special stages later, Payet ended the rally classified 12th. Gany won the rally while Ardouin (206 S1600) was the top Super 1600 runner in second position. Law Hang (Xsara Kit-car) was a distant third.

"Unia has to face to his first retirement, told Gérard Magniette team-manager of squad Future World. The struggle between him and Payet was exciting and, once again, Unia was on the top. For the first time of this year, we took no points but the result of Payet is not better. So, Unia is still a very strong leader."

Performing Toyota Corolla WRC since 1999, Future World is also leading current Belgian competition (R. Theunissen). End of last month, Swiss driver Jaquillard has brought a new victory to the Antwerpen-based squad, which is still classified third of the 2002 European Rally Championship (L. Kuzaj). Next rally for Future World is Deutschland Rally with Theunissen-Genten (B/B).

Classification

1.Gany-Omarjee (F/F) (Peugeot 306 Maxi) in 2h34'47"; 2. Ardouin-Paris (F/F) (Peugeot 206 S1600) at 4.01; 3. Law Hang-Papama (F/F) (Citroën Xsara Kit-car) at 4.53; 4. Grondin-Bernard (F/F) (Citroën Saxo Kit-car) at 5.22; 5. Picard-Picard (F/F) (Subaru Impreza GT Gr.N) at 6.42...

Championship (after round 6)

1.Unia (3 wins) : 282 pts; 2. Payet (2 wins) : 258 pts; 3. Ardouin : 191 pts; 4. gany (1 win) : 168 pts; 5. Boyer : 140 pts...

-fw-