Dufas’ Estering success was as unexpected as it
was well-deserved, given his previous best finish in the FIA European Rallycross
Championship had been a 13th place – just shy of the semi-finals.
The former French Junior Rallycross Champion,
however, was on the pace all weekend at the Buxtehude-based circuit, and if the
result owed a little to luck – with on-track winner Jens Hvaal being disqualified
for a technical non-conformity – then it was certainly no less merited.
Only the fifth French driver to win in Europe
at RX3/Super1600 level – following in the wheeltracks of countrymen Samuel Peu,
Olivier and Steven Bossard and Andréa Dubourg – he subsequently bought the Renault
Clio 5 RX Evolution with which he had prevailed in Germany.
With the car benefitting from some minor engine
upgrades, Dufas is now aiming to prove that he is no one-hit wonder, as he gets set to take on the crème de la crème of international competition on home
soil in the Euro RX curtain-raiser at Essay on 8-9 June.
“When Aurélien Géraud took the decision to wind
up RX Evolution’s racing activities, we jumped at the opportunity to buy the Clio,”
revealed the 27-year-old Caen native. “We know the calibre is very high in the
European Championship, as has been the case every time I’ve participated.
“I don’t have that much experience in Euro RX,
and there will be a number of new aspects to get to grips with – not least the Hoosier
tyres that we will need to learn how to master. Nevertheless, for the first
time, I will have the advantage of going to a circuit that I know well.
“The purchase of the Clio represents a
significant investment for our team. There are still a lot of areas in which we
can develop and improve it, particularly on the suspension side – we’re a long
way from exploiting its full potential. We’re making sure we prepare as well as
we possibly can for Essay, because one thing is clear – I’m entering this event
with the aim of coming away with another win!”
Finland
Italy
Hungary