Co-driver Nicolas Klinger has praised Robert Consani after the young Frenchman claimed victory in the IRC Production Cup on Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés in a Renault Mégane RS.
However, Klinger, who navigated Nicolas Vouilloz to the IRC drivers’ title in 2008, admitted that he feared they wouldn’t reach the finish in Las Palmas after a gearbox problem developed on the final stage.
“We drive without gears for the whole last stage, I don’t know what happened but we are lucky to be here,” said Klinger. “This is a difficult rally for a young driver, especially with only two passes in the recce. But Robert got quicker today with more experience of the roads. It is a good result for him and fantastic to win against an R4 car.”
Romania-based Italian Marco Tempestini, whose Subaru Impreza R4 STI repeatedly lost its brakes nearing the ends of stages, finished second.