Press Release

 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 8, 2013
For more information, Contact:
Antoine L’Estage
Coyote Rallye Media Services
514-825-4332
E-mail: alestage@coyoterallye.com
Website: http://www.coyoterallye.com/

Fortieth career win for the Rockstar driver...
Antoine L'Estage Wins the Rallye Défi for the Seventh Time

Montréal, Québec — Quebec driver Antoine L’Estage (of St-Jean-sur-Richelieu) and Irish co-driver Karl Atkinson, won this weekend’s Rallye Défi, held in the Laurentians and Outaouais regions of Québec, and counting towards the North American and Canadian Rally Championships. Leading from the first stage until the very end, the Rockstar duo dominated the event. This victory marks Antoine L'Estage’s seventh win at the Rallye Défi (new record) and his fortieth rally success in North America. As for Karl Atkinson’s debut with the Rockstar team this weekend, this was his first North American win.

« Everything went extremely well for us. Adapting to Karl in the right seat was fairly quick and we dominated the event, winning 19 of the 23 stages » explains L'Estage, who adds: « the Rallye Défi is a series of fairly short stages, which means that you have to be the fastest on the first leg on Friday morning. That’s where you need to make the difference and that’s exactly what we were able to do. The roads were rough but I attacked really hard and with confidence, knowing that I didn’t need to worry about getting any flats with my Yokohama tires. With the lead we built up during the first leg, we knew that all we needed to do was just manage the rest of the rally ».

Antoine L'Estage won the Rallye Défi for the seventh time, which is a new record. « There are always so many fans, friends, and sponsors at this event so I’m really happy to have won for them. Personally, I’m happy that my fortieth win took place here at my home event but I also think about the title and this win brings up to within eleven points of the current leader. Heading into the second half of the season, this was a very important victory that we just earned » specified the Quebec driver.

For Irishman Karl Atkinson, this was his first time competing at the Rallye Défi and as Antoine L’Estage’s co-driver, substituting in for Nathalie Richard: « I am super happy! Thanks to Antoine and the entire Rockstar team for having confidence in me » he indicates.

Antoine L’Estage holds five North American championship titles (2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012), five Canadian titles (2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012), one American title (2010), and forty overall victories in Canada and the US.

Antoine L’Estage participates in the 2013 Rally America and Canadian Rally Championships with the support of Rockstar Energy Drink, Fenetres Concerto, Mitsubishi Canada, Yokohama Tires, Drenth Motorsport Gearboxes, Énergie Cardio, Formica Group, Alpinestars, VP Racing Fuels, Exe-Tc Suspensions, Driver's Edge Autosport, and Libra Racing.

For more information on the team or on rallying in general, visit antoinelestage.com.

2013 Canadian Rally Championship Calendar
DateEventLocation 
February 2RALLYE PERCE-NEIGEManiwaki, QuébecDNF
June 29-30RALLYE BAIE-DES-CHALEURSNew Richmond, Québec1st
September 6-7RALLYE DÉFISte-Agathe, Québec1st
October 4-5PACIFIC FOREST RALLYMerritt, British Columbia
November 2ROCKY MOUNTAIN RALLYInvermere, British Columbia
November 30RALLY OF THE TALL PINESBancroft, Ontario

2013 Rally America Series Calendar
DateEventLocation 
January 25-26SNO*DRIFT RALLYAtlanta, Michigan1st
February 22-23100 ACRE WOODSalem, MissouriDNF
May 3-4OREGON TRAILPortland, OregonDNF
May 31-June 1S.T.P.R.Wellsboro, PennsylvaniaAbsent
July 26-27NEW ENGLAND FOREST RALLYBethel, MaineDNF
August 22-23OJIBWE FORESTS RALLYDetroit Lakes, MinnesotaDNF
October 18-19LAKE SUPERIOR PRO RALLYHoughton, Michigan

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