Burns wrecks PANIZZI'S car?

[Liz]

From Autosport.com:

Peugeot's Richard Burns has extensively damaged Gilles Panizzi's car during testing today near Dwellingup in Western Australia's South West. A Telstra Rally Australia Senior Official confirmed that the accident happened approximately 2.30pm on Thursday at Marrinup. It is reported that Burns was travelling at high speeds along a twisty section road when he went up the side of an embankment and hit a tree head on. Neither Richard Burns nor his co-driver Robert Reid was hurt in the accident. Peugeot's team doctor was on site and declared both to be fine, albeit a little bruised.

Could someone explain to me what Burnsie was doing joy-riding in Panizzi's car?

[Marcel ten Caat]

Errm, pre-event testing?

Teams usually do that with the first car that is not eligible for manufacturers points. And since this rally has Burns, Gronholm and Rovanpera nominated, Panizzi is less important.

Ford does the same (at least in April on Cyprus), there they used Duval's car to have all 4 drivers test.

[rdjones]

Saw that one, Peugeot have said they can fix the car........

[Liz]

Thanks, I didn't know they used real cars for that, I thought they had back-up cars for testing.

Glad they are okay and the car is not totalled.

[rdjones]

Just found this on BBC online:-

Gilles Panizzi will not compete in next week's Rally of Australia after Peugeot team-mate Richard Burns crashed his car in testing.
The Frenchman was due to drive a 206 WRC in the Perth-based event, before former world champion Burns smashed it into a tree on Thursday.

"Unfortunately Richard Burns destroyed the car and Gilles will not have a car available," said a statement from the Peugeot team.

Peugeot cancelled the remaining two days of their testing after the incident.

But Panizzi will remain in Australia and perform the pre-event reconnaissance before returning to Europe.

He will return to action in next month's Rally of Britain, the last race of the season.

Neither Burns nor his co-driver Robert Reid were badly hurt in the accident.

Peugeot's team doctor was on site and reported both had suffered no worse than bruising.

"I'm a little sore, but nothing to worry about," said Reid.

"These things happen, especially in a place where the trees are very close to the road."

Burns is second in the world championship table but Peugeot team mate Marcus Gronholm has already clinched the title after victory in New Zealand earlier this month.

[Speeddemon555]

Panizzi is not a happy guy.

[ss_collins]

Panizzi brothers remain in OZ waiting to jump Burnsie on a dark night or seen puoring sand into his fuel tank!!!

[Liz]

Or hold up rude signs in French.

[429CJ]

Or calling them very bad names, like "french" guys in the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail

[SJ Spode]

I think Burns should give up his car for Gilles. You can imagine Corrado Provera " Now Richard, you can't break Gilles' toy and then go off and play with your own."

[StuiE]

I read in the paper on saturday that Peugeot says that they will get it fixed in time for thursday's start.

BTW - I'll be at the superSpecial stage on friday night, woohoo!.....and no stupip pop bands!

[Dutton]

These things happen, thatis racing. Sure Panizzi's not going exactly going to be over joyed by the event, but he agreed to drive for the team and I am sure his postion was duly explained.

I would use the same system if I ran a team, as would any sensible person really. It is things like this which should be present in motorsport at al times, to make it a harsher reality than it could potentially be.

[SJ Spode]

gtr69; Enjoy yourself at the SuperSpecial - I'm sure you will!!!

[StuiE]

I can't say it was as good all the other years that I have been, but it was still good, seeing Simon Evans, Manfred Stohl, Colin McRae and Carlos Sainz attack the stage would have to have been the highlights.

They also had Garth Tander and Paul Weel battle it out on the stage in Utes, A modified manual SS Commodore ute (it was LOUD, he was bouncing it off the rev limiter most of the run)vs. the AUTO Falcon with no mods and was, well, boring really. At the end of friday night's runs it was 2-2 so it was kinda obvious it was staged.

The night didn't last all that long, gates opened at 5pm, and racing finished at about 9:20 with fireworks taking it up to 9:30, while in '98 there was still racing (offroad buggies and such) at 11:30, when I left.