Spaniard Jesus Puras claimed his first world rallying win today when he held off the challenge of Gilles Panizzi to win the Rally of Corsica. Citroen driver Puras came home 17.5 seconds ahead of Peugeot's Panizzi after he opted for caution on the final leg to preserve his overnight advantage.
Puras gave Citroen their first win of the season and was delighted to have brought his Xsara WRC home after previously crashing out while leading the San Remo Rally two weeks ago. "It feels so good to have won for the first time," Puras said. "The car has done exactly what I wanted it to do. I was always confident of keeping my lead today.”
Frenchman Panizzi closed the gap on Puras after the opening stage of the day, but Puras responded to set the best stage time on the 'Pont de Calzola 1' run. But he lost his brakes on the final two runs and was forced to abandon plans for victory to secure maximum manufacturers' championship points for Peugeot.
With Citroen ineligible for points in the manufacturers' championship as they do not compete in all rounds of the championship, Panizzi and Auriol came home as the first two drivers nominated for manufacturers' points to move Peugeot within seven points of leaders Ford.
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
