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19/4/2007
Subaru rally driver Chris Atkinson will have a new man in the co-driver's seat, Stephane Prevot, when he takes on Rally Argentina on May 4. Prevot, a 38 year-old from Belgium, 38 has close links with the Subaru World Rally Team, having sat in Impreza World Rally Cars alongside Bruno Thiry in 1999 and Stephane Sarrazin for the 2006 season. He has competed in more than 100 World and European events in a co-driving career stretching back to the late 1980s. During the team’s recent test session in Sardinia, Atkinson and Prevot spent three days working together in the Subaru Impreza WRC2007.
"Right from the start of the test we seemed to work well together and we improved with every day,” said Atkinson. “Stephane’s an experienced and professional co-driver and he adapted to my driving very quickly. Of course there’s still work to do, as Stephane gets used to my notes system, and my words and phrases, but it’s good so far. We already have a good understanding in the car and I’m feeling positive about our rally debut in Argentina.” Subaru World Rally Team managing director Richard Taylor added: “Finding a suitable world-class co-driver partway through a season is never an easy task, but Stephane was a logical choice. His vast experience, allied to his knowledge of the way our team works, means he will be able to fit seamlessly into our driver line-up. "We’re confident he and Chris will work well together and expect them to be in contention for a strong points finish in Argentina next month." Prevot replaces Glenn Macneall, who recently stepped down and returned to the southern hemisphere to concentrate on business and personal commitments. Stephane Prevot fast facts As a child, he fell in love with rallying after watching a local event, Rallye Condroz, pass close to his home in Huy, Belgium. He made his debut as a co-driver one week after passing his driving test. As a student in the late 1980s, he had to choose between his studying and rallying. He chose the latter! Stephane has visited the World Rally Championship podium 12 times in his career. Career highlights 2007: Re-joins Subaru World Rally Team as Chris Atkinson's co-driver
2006: WRC programme with Subaru World Rally Team (with Stephane Sarrazin)
2005: World Rally Championship (with Francois Duval)
2004: Second place, Mexico and Germany WRC (with Francois Duval)
1999: WRC programme with Subaru World Rally Team (with Bruno Thiry)
1999: European Rally Cup winning co-driver (with Bruno Thiry)
1994: Fifth place, World Rally Championship (with Bruno Thiry)
1992: Second, WRC Ivory Coast Rally (with Bruno Thiry)
1990: Belgian Rally Champion (with Marc Timmers) |
