After a career of more than 35 years and around 600 races on circuit in single-seater and GT, the drivers Christophe Hurni takes up a new challenge by completely changing discipline!
He participated at the Rallye International du Valais driving a Skoda Fabia R5 prepared by Team Balbosca.
He approached this new challenge with the goal of having fun and reaching the finish line. He made a good performance for his first participation by progressing throughout the rally and he finishing 24th out of 71 participants.
Christophe Hurni
A great first for you?
Yes, the idea of Rally has always tickled me, but the opportunity never came up. I am really happy with this challenge, which is not easy despite my great experience in motorsport. Almost everything is different in rally compared to the circuit. I had to learn to drive very fast (sometimes over 160km/h) on narrow paths, dirt and even with mud not always expected that causes a complete loss of grip. All this in a scary environment (walls, rocks, precipices and forests) with only for points of reference notes that I had taken and that my experienced navigator Jerome Degout dictates to me as we move forward. Some turns cannot even be negotiated at once because they are tight. I had to learn the technique of the handbrake, not always obvious on a road just a few inches wider than my car.
I made mistakes that made me waste time but they are part of the learning. The hardest part was learning to take notes and apply them while driving.
I was very well advised by Gregoire Hotz and my navigator Jérôme Dégout who both have a great career in rally and a great experience.
Have the objectives been achieved?
The objectives were to finish and avoid the many pitfalls of this very difficult rally. With this 24th place overall on 71 cars at the start, I am really satisfied. I still have a lot to learn and progress to make but most of all I had a huge pleasure for my first rally.
There will be others?
I don’t know yet, but why not! I still remain a circuit driver. I haven’t decided anything for my 2020 season but I’m always ready for new challenges!
The entire Team Sports-Promotion ensured the assistance throughout the 3 days of the Rally and we had a new experience with a lot of fun.
