Mads Østberg and Torstein Eriksen won the ACI Rally Monza to score their fourth WRC2 success of the season and wrap up their maiden World Championship title, the seventh for PH Sport since the beginning of the millennium.
Already victorious in Monte-Carlo, Sweden and Estonia, the Norwegian crew and their Citroën C3 R5 overcame the pitfalls of the FIA World Rally Championship season-finale to clinch the extremely coveted crown.
Included for the first time in the calendar, the ACI Rally Monza offered an unprecedented challenge with its winter weather, its stages on the famous “Temple of Speed” circuit and its access roads. Third at the end of a muddy first stage, the duo took the lead in the snowy mountain tests on Saturday before controlling the proceedings until the finish.
With four wins and a fourth place in five starts this year, Mads Østberg and Torstein Eriksen made history by becoming WRC2 World Champions by four points ahead of Pontus Tidemand, crowned in the category in 2017.
The Norwegian pair also added a line to the PH Sport record in WRC, opened by the Sébastien Loeb and its Citroën Saxo S1600 in the 2001 Junior WRC season. A year later, Daniel Solà followed suit with the same model before Sébastien Ogier revealed himself to the world in 2008 with a Citroën C2 S1600. In 2013, PH Sport won the inaugural WRC2 campaign with Robert Kubica and his DS 3 RRC before Stéphane Lefebvre and the team achieved the Junior WRC / WRC3 double with a DS3 R3 the following year.
All the PH Sport team would like to thank Mads Østberg, Torstein Eriksen and Citroën Racing for their cooperation during a year to remember for many reasons!
Mads Østberg, 2020 WRC2 World Champion “What an unbelievable feeling! I am really happy, especially as it was such a difficult weekend, with so many ups and downs all through the year. We were very much the underdogs in the championship but we won through persistence and thanks to the excellent development work done on the C3 R5. The whole team, both at Citroën Racing and PH Sport, did an amazing job throughout the season to get to where we are now!”
Bernard Piallat, PH Sport Director “Obviously, I’m delighted with the result, especially as it was far from being a foregone conclusion. This is PH Sport’s sixth world title in a Citroën, with Mads’ win adding to those of Sébastien Loeb in 2001, Dani Sola in 2002, Sébastien Ogier in 2008, Robert Kubica in 2013, Stéphane Lefebvre in 2014. The team, as usual, did an extraordinary job throughout the season and the upgrades introduced by Citroën Racing also paid off. Everything worked well. This weekend was no different, with good weather information provided by Météo France and excellent work done by the ice crews, in very tricky conditions.”
PH Sport has been present in off-road rallying since 2016 and it has deepened its links with the sport with the most advanced SSV TP3 ever put on sale: the Zéphyr. This model will go on sale and will also be available for rent with the 2020 Dakar in Saudi Arabia in sight.
PH Sport is the leader in France in the preparation, operation and rental of rally cars from the regional level to the WRC. It first became involved in off-road rallying by renting out ex-works Peugeots from 2016 onwards. The team improved year after year and helped Khalid Al Qassimi to sixth place in the 2018 Dakar and Sébastien Loeb to a podium finish in the last one.
A new chapter is about to begin in this activity with the Zéphyr, an SSV T3P produced by the team based in Langres (Haute-Marne).
Based on the Can-Am Maverick X3 the Zéphyr stands out from traditional SSVs thanks to light carbon bodywork designed around a tubular chassis homologated by the FIA creating a credible, economical and suitable alternative to the vehicles in the T1 category.
While the engine with its air restrictor is the original one to respect the FIA regulations, the other elements of the vehicle have been the target of specific attention. Among these are the latest 3-way BOS dampers with hydraulic compression and rebound stops, ultra-light springs, an electric harness that enables the latest ECU to be installed as well as an electronic central dashboard and data acquisition system.
These modifications combined with carbon seats keep the weight down to 900 kilograms (with an on-board spare wheel). Two classic rims shod with BF Goodrich tyres will be available: 14 and 15 inches according to each event’s regulations.
After an intensive test programme in France and in Abu Dhabi carried out by several drivers from various representative domains and world champions in their respective fields, the first Zéphyr will go on sale and for rent for the 2020 Dakar. As is the case in all its activities, PH Sport offers a top-quality turn-key service integrating all the technical, sporting and logistical aspects of off-road rallying.
The SSVs have been accepted in the SxS category since 2017 and comply with regulations that allow the transformation of light vehicles within capped costs to give amateurs an accessible, enjoyable vehicle and at the same time allowing manufacturers to spot future talents.
“We’re very excited about this challenge and interest is already running very high as most of the twenty vehicles in the first run have been bought or rented. Our discovery of off-road rallying continues through new adventures and the timing seemed perfect to us to launch ourselves into the construction of Zéphyr, the most-advanced SSV available today. We’ve invested all our knowhow in this credible economical product, which is a great alternative to the T1. We’re tackling this new chapter in our activities with humility as we still have a great deal to learn. We would like to thank the many competitors who have already chosen to join us and put their trust in us so early in this project.”
Bernard Piallat, PH Sport manager
PH Zéphyr – Technical specifications Base: Can-Am Maverick X3 Chassis: tubular, homologated by the FIA Bodywork: full carbon Dimensions: width increased to 2.1 metres Dampers: latest three-way BOS with hydraulic compression and rebound stops, CAS and FCS system and ultra-light springs Wheels: 14 and 15-inch rims (according to each event’s regulations), BF Goodrich tyres Weight: 900 kilograms (with one spare wheel). Electronics: ECU, dashboard, data acquisition and MoTec Power Box Fuel tank: 130 litres with carbon/kevlar housing Plus: lithium battery, carbon seats
PH SPORT CONTACT Tel.: +33 325 87 27 92 Email: contact@ph-sport.com Web: www.ph-sport.com Facebook: PH Sport Twitter: @ph_sport Instagram: @ph_sport
