Abarth's Giandomenico Basso, who needed a top result on the Rallye du Valais to stand any chance of taking the title fight to the final round, ended up fifth after fighting back from three punctures that cost him more than two minutes. He won the first stage of the rally, but dropped progressively down the field to seventh place. A big effort on the final leg saw him make up two places and claim four championship points, but they are not enough to keep his title hopes alive.
Despite his relative lack of asphalt experience, Abarth's Anton Alen recorded his best-ever sealed-surface finish to claim sixth overall. Perhaps encouraged by a flying visit to the Rallye du Valais from his friend and reigning Formula 1 World champion Kimi Raikkonen, Alen did not put a foot wrong during all three days of the Swiss event.
The final two points-scoring places were claimed by local man Gregoire Hotz, who set fastest time on SS14 and finished seventh, ahead of Peugeot Hungary's Janos Toth.
There was drama in the IRC 2WD Cup, which is now set to go down to the wire on the final round in China. Fiat Punto Diesel driver Marco Cavigioli, who is currently second in the standings, thought that his chances were over following a suspension breakage and consequent retirement during the first loop of stages on Thursday.
IRC 2WD Cup points' leader Alessandro Bettega, who took the class lead from the start, seemed set for a win that would have given him the championship. But the Italian retired on the afternoon of the second day with a broken driveshaft, meaning that the two-wheel drive title race is still open. Bettega still leads Cavigioli by 18 points to 15.
Local driver Joel Rappaz claimed the 2WD Cup honours in Switzerland, driving a Honda Civic.
Other retirements on the event included Abarth's Umberto Scandola, who led after the opening day but broke the suspension on his Grande Punto in SS5. Local hero Olivier Burri also stopped before SS6 with a mechanical problem.
Results - Rallye du Valais (Switzerland):
1.
Loix/Buysmans Peugeot 207 S2000
2hours 37mins 33.5secs
2.
Vouilloz/Klinger Peugeot 207 S2000
+4.5s
3.
Rossetti/Chiarcossi Peugeot 207 S2000
+53.9s
4.
Bouffier/Panseri Peugeot 207 S2000
+1m30.3s
5.
Basso/Dotta Abarth Grande Punto S2000
+2m48.2s
6.
Alen/Alanne Abarth Grande Punto S2000
+2m52.8s
7.
Hotz/Ravasi Peugeot 207 S2000
+3m24.3s
8.
Toth/Tagai Peugeot 207 S2000
+6m15.9s
9.
Gonon/Arlettaz Peugeot 207 S2000
+9m51.4s
10.
Radoux/Gregoire Mitsubishi Lancer
+10m07.7s
Two-wheel drive winner: Joel Rappaz (Honda Civic Type R).
Standings (after round 9 of 10)*:
Drivers:
1.
Vouilloz 58 points
[champion subject to final confirmation]
2.
Loix 48
3.
Basso 46
4.
Rossetti 44
5.
Alen 21
6.
Travaglia 19
7.
Kopecky 15
8.
Hanninen 14
9.
Bouffier 11
10.
Camacho 6
Manufacturers:
1.
Peugeot 106 points
[champions subject to final confirmation]
2.
Abarth 74
3.
Mitsubishi 10
4.
Volkswagen 5
* Best seven scores count.
