FIRST TIME IN SLOVENIA - PEUGEOT 206 WRC
August 2003. Italy. Rally Alpi Orientali. Winner Claudio de Cecco. And
Claudio de Cecco is the driver, who will drive the most attractive car in this
year rally Saturnus. With car, which won several events in world rally
championship. With Peugeot 206 WRC. De Cecco is already known to Slovenian
rally fans, he competed in Maalbo show in Koper at the 
beginning of
90ies, where he drove brutal lancia delta integrale and he got a lot of
applause for power sidings. "Rally Saturnus is race with tradition, always
well organized. And I also
have more possibilities to be best classified on the FIA European Regional Rally Cup in case of
winning Saturnus" said Claudio on question why he decided to come to
Saturnus. And he added: "Even if I know that there will be some very good
and fast drivers that can compete with me, my target is to win the race".
Few years ago his rival were also Darko Peljhan and Miran Kacin, who now
organizing rally Saturnus. How did Claudio remember them? "They were
always very fast, and I'm very glad that now they are organizing Rally
Saturnus." And what about the car, where one kilometre cost nearly 300
EUR? " Peugeot 206 wrc is the most competitive rally car that I've ever
driven. In 2003 I've participated on four rally events and I've got 3 victories
and a third place, I'm very satisfied of the car and of the entire Friulmotor
rally team. I drove impreza wrc, focus wrc, corolla wrc, but P206 WRC is the
best of all those cars.
Claudio was born on May 31st in Houillesu, France,
but he spent most of his childhood in Manzanu. At the moment he is the best
driver in Friuli Venezia Giulia. He started to drive rally in 1986 with
Autobianchi A 112, and friend Giulianom Cantaruttijem as co-driver. He quickly recognized,
that he is good and next year he was champion of Friuli Venezia Giulia region
in Italy in N2 class. In 1988 he drove Renault 5 GT turbo and ford sierra, but
he has a lot of technical problems. He finished 14 and 9 place in Piancavallo
rally, one of the best rallies for European championship. In 1990 he started 17
races with Terrosi's Opel Kadett Gsi and at the end of the season he 
finished third in
Opel challenge with 14 races finished. Next year was catastrophe again but in
1992 he finished all 4 events in Italian championship which he started in F2
class. In Alpi Orientali rally he drive Peugeot 406 mi 16 for the first time,
and retire with technical problems. A few weeks later he won in general
classification for the first time, it was in Portogruaro . Next few years he
regularly competes in Italian rally cup and he won 4th Italian rally
zone 6 times in the row! He was driving lancia delta HF and ford escort RS
Coswortha group A. With lancia he also finished second in Mitropa cup in 1992,
and he also win rally Opatija twice in a row. In 1996, with toyota celica GT
four he was the champion of Mitropa cup. Fourth win was achieved with Subaru
impreza and in 1997 he cooperate with Riccardo Errani and drive ford escort. In
San Remo rally he finished in 13 place in Piancavallo 7, and in Targa Florio
rally 4th. Nest year he compete Italian rally championship and because
illness he didn't drive in San Remo. So he lost all chances to win Privateer
cup group A. Also in 1999 he compete Italian rally champion (CIR) with Subaru
prepared by Procar. Three times he finished in podium and won privateers cup
and finished 5th in CIR. Year 2000 was full of technical problems,
but 2001 was good again. With toyota corolla WRC he finished 4th in
CIR and he established his own team Euromotor- Erg, and drive ford focus WRC.
Team won Italian championship and Claudio finished second in Italian rally cup.
He also won rally San Martino di Castrozza and rally Moliseu. On specific
Rallyju di Vallelunga he drive Peugeot 206 WRC for the first time. In 2003
season he won 3 rallies with this car and he is also the biggest favourite to
win rally Saturnus 2003.
History of Claudio DeCecco
1986: debut in al Rally dei Colli Goriziani with A112 Abarth
1987: Champion of Friuli Venezia Giulia
1990: 2 overall Opel Challenge
1991: 3 overall Opel Challenge
1992: 2 overall Opel Challenge
1993: 1 overall in Italy rally cup, 4th zone
1 Trofeo
"Rallygame" Autosprint
1994: 2 overall Mitropa Rally Cup
1
overall Italy rally cup, 4th zone
1
Trofeo "Rallygame" Autosprint
1995: 1 overall Italy rally cup, 4th zone
1 overall Italy rally cup, 5th
zone
1996: 1 overall Mitropa Rally Cup
1 overall Italy rally cup, 3rd
zone
1997: 1 overall Italy rally cup, 4th zone
1998: 2 overall Italian rally championship "Privat"
1999: 2 overall Italian rally championship "Privat"
5 overall Italian rally
championship
2000: 4 overall Italian rally championship
2001: 2 Italian Rally Cup
1° Rally San Martino di
Castrozza
1° Rally del Molise
3° Rally Appennino
Ligure-Lanterna
1° Rally di Vallelunga
3° Rally di Piancavallo
2002: 2 Italian Rally Cup
3° Mitropa Rally Cup
1° Rally del Gargano
1° Rally Valle d’Aosta
2° Rally Oberland (D)
2° Rally Lavantthal (A)
1° Rally Valli Pordenonesi
1° Rally Alpi Orientali
2° Rally di Messina
1° Gr.N Rally S.Martino di
Castrozza
1° Gr.N. Motor Show di Bologna
Peugeot 206 WRC
Engine: 2 litres front-mounted,
Transverse- 4 cylinders.
Distribution: double overhead camshaft.
Engine management: Magneti Marelli electronic injection.
Turbocharger: Garret.
Maximum power: over300 hp.
Traction: 4-wheels permanent.
Gearbox: X-trac 6 speed.
Clutch: AP 3-plates, carbon.
Suspensions: front and rear pseudo-McPherson + Holins shock absorbers.
Brakes for tarmac: ventilated 370 mm discs, 8-piston callipers, Brembo.
Brakes for gravel: ventilated 295 mm discs, 4-piston callipers, Brembo
Lenght: 4000 mm.
Width: 1770 mm.
Wheelbase: 2445 mm.
Weight: 1230 Kg.
