Jean-Joseph wins again in France and Cole wraps up REIS Series French Gravel Rally Championship

Kumho is the first to admit that, until this season, it had never won a round of the French Gravel Championship, now it has triumphed on three in succession, courtesy of two-times European Rally Champion Simon Jean-Joseph and his co-driver Jack Boyère.

The latest success took place over the weekend of September 17/18, when the French series travelled across the border to Spain for the Rally Lloret de Mar Terres de Catalunya, a new venue on the calendar. Driving his Peugeot 207 Super 2000 prepared by 2C Competition, Jean-Joseph set the pace on all eight of the first day’s stages. A second good day’s work saw him run out overall victor of the event, 1’ 35” ahead of Manu Gascou. As a result, Jean-Joseph and Gascou are now tied for the Championship lead. The next round is the Rallye Terre des Cardabelles on October 8/9.

Said Kumho’s European Motorsport Manager, Steve Thompson: “Three consecutive victories are strong testament to the performance and durability of our R900 gravel rally tyres, and Jean-Joseph is the first to recognise the part they have played in these results. It is very rewarding to be directly involved in the return to form of such a great driver.”

REIS MSA Asphalt Rally Championship

Damian Cole and co-driver James Morgan have won the 2011 REIS MSA Asphalt Rally Championship with their immaculate Kumho-shod Ford Focus WRC. They clinched the series with one round to go by achieving outright victory on last weekend’s (September 25) Patriot Stages event. The only team that could have beaten them to the title was the Escort pairing of Simon Mauger and Brian Cammack, but they ground to a halt during the latter stages of the rally with a broken throttle return spring. This is the second consecutive REIS title for ‘King’ Cole and Kumho.

Commented Steve Thompson: “We are delighted for Damian and James who have used our tarmac rally tyres to such good effect two years in a row. We wish them all the best for the final round of the series which, no doubt, they will wish to add to their already long list of wins.”