Patrick Snijers finishes eight in Wallonia - Gregoire Munster once again best junior 28.04.2019: This weekend Patrick Snijers (VW Polo R5) finished in eighth place in the Rallye de Wallonie. A skid and a wrong choice of tyres on Saturday prevented a better result. On a positive side the Limburg based driver was able to bring a difficult race to a goo

This weekend Patrick Snijers (VW Polo R5) finished in eighth place in the Rallye de Wallonie. A skid and a wrong choice of tyres on Saturday prevented a better result. On a positive side the Limburg based driver was able to bring a difficult race to a good ending and looking to the future he has built up his confidence.



Grégoire Munster did the same. Following his crash in the TAC Rally this was THE mission for this rally. Munster finished 18th overall and was, similar to Haspengouw and Spa, once again the best Junior. Henri Schmelcher can be satisfied looking back on his debut with an R5. Schmelcher finished in 17th spot, with Pieter-Jan Michiel Cracco (Skoda Fabia R5) in 21st.



“Both Davy Thierie and I have the feeling that we drove really hard, but it doesn’t reflect in the result” Patrick Snijers commented “Following yesterday’s mistake we needed to catch up but we were unable to reduce the gap on our competitors. The varying weather conditions also meant a difficult choice of tyres whereby we never really had the right ones as from the start. But once more we drove a full rally with the R5. That gives us confidence for the rest of the season.”



Similar to Patrick Snijers Pieter-Jan Michiel Cracco enjoyed good and less good moments. “After the first stage on Saturday morning we were lying in sixth place. On the following run we skidded off road without too much damage. The problems started when we tried to get back on to the road. We hit some barbed wire which damaged the air intake, the windscreen wipers and the side mirrors.



In the last stage I had gauged the braking zone perfectly but I had the misfortune that it was extremely slippery there whereby I nudged a straw bale which damaged the radiator with as outcome our retirement. The aim today was to become better acquainted with the Skoda. Pity about the spin in the final run whereby I missed out on my first ever scratch. I want to thank BMA for all the hard work they put in to provide me with a perfect car. The Skoda is fantastic. Can’t wait for the Sezoensrally.”



For the third time this season Grégoire Munster won the ranking among the Juniors. “I’m delighted with my rally. The weather conditions made it a difficult competition. For me personally it was important to rebuild my confidence and that succeeded. After 12 stages I had a one-minute advantage over the second placed competitor in my class, up until a puncture relegated us to second spot among the Juniors at the end of the day. Today I was able to regain the lead without any problem. We drove both well and efficiently. I’m truly satisfied.”



On Sunday evening Bernard Munster is catching a ‘plane and heading off for Morocco where BMA are entering two Porsche this coming week to compete in the Maroc Historic Rally. One for Alain Deveza who won this event last year and a second model for Johan Gitsels who this time around will be at the wheel of the machine with next to him Andrée Hansen, Bernard Munster’s wife. “Patrick put in some good times. Pity about his small mistake yesterday whereby he lost contact with the top four. The aim today was to build up the kilometres.



 Patrick is definitely ready for the Sezoensrally. Pieter-Jan Michiel Cracco needed to discover the car during this rally. He did it well, and similar to Patrick, also drove some keen times. Pieter-Jan Michiel is extremely motivated, eager to learn and coachable. I want to help him to become an even better driver. After ten years Henri Schmelcher traded his Porsche in for an R5. That’s more than a world of difference. But he did it well. He progressed throughout the entire rally. As for Grégoire I am delighted to see that he can tackle his next assignment with the necessary confidence. Here he produced 16 best times, resulting in 16 additional points. That’s important.”



Grégoire Munster will also be catching a ‘plane this evening with as destination the Canary Islands. Later on next week his second assignment with Opel Motorsport awaits him. “For us it’s an important rally. It is fortunate that after the TAC I was able to compete in the Rallye de Wallonie because in each ERC competition you need to be 100%. Confidence is fully back on track. I’m looking forward to my next assignment.”


 


 





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