Italy’s Paolo Andreucci etched his name even deeper into the annals of motorsport history when he extended his record to become a nine-time Italian Rally Champion yesterday, after winning the Rally del Friuli.
Andreucci is also the most successful exponent of the Peugeot 208 T16: a car that has had its share of difficulties on some other championship, but worked brilliantly in the hands of Peugeot Italia.
“Pure happiness – that’s the only way I can describe it at the moment,” said Andreucci, co-driven by Anna Andreucci: who is also his partner in everyday life. “It’s been a fantastic championship, which we’ve actually managed to wrap up with two rallies to spare. It’s been a win, like all of those we’ve had over the years, built on teamwork. I never get tired of winning: and with the hard work and concentration of everyone, we can keep on doing it.”
Andreucci celebrated his 50th birthday earlier this year, and is by far the most successful driver on his domestic series: although he also led the 1997 Sanremo Rally in a Renault Maxi Megane when it was part of the WRC, and also scored point in Sardinia this year by finishing eighth. Remarkably, he was also eighth on his World Rally Championship debut, on the 1989 Rally of Portugal in a Jolly Club Lancia Delta.
Story by: Anthony Peacock
Source: Maxrally