Addition to Yokohama rally family (with spectacular video)
In 2017, Yokohama Suisse is focusing even more on rallying. After the Japanese tire manufacturer had already supported the JoSpeed rally team as a sponsor in 2016 and is continuing its commitment this year, Yokohama has entered into a partnership with the Blanchard/Helfer rally team. In Switzerland, Yokohama is specifically active in rallying in addition to several brand trophies. 2016 [...]
In Switzerland, Yokohama is specifically active in rallying in addition to several brand trophies. In 2016, the Peugeot S2000 of Team JoSpeed even took part in the national rally championship with a vehicle painted in the Yokohama livery. JoSpeed's sponsorship will also be maintained in the new year. For the 2017 season, JoSpeed driver Joël Rappaz will again rely on a Peugeot S2000, which he will chase around the rally tracks in the Yokohama colors with a new design. Also new is the navigator at his side: instead of last year's co-driver Katja Toschnig, Frenchwoman Mélinda Beuret now keeps her driver informed about where things are going.
Other team in these colors
To underpin its motorsport expertise in the national rally scene, the tire manufacturer agreed a partnership with another team in addition to the JoSpeed sponsorship for the new season: the Vaudois duo Christian Blanchard/Frédéric Helfer will be competing in an additional category in 2017 with a Renault Clio S1600. Blanchard/Helfer have been driving rallies together for around 20 years and have celebrated numerous major successes during this time, including winning the Swiss championship in Group N in 2002 and the runner-up title in the overall classification in the same year.
On the weekend of March 17 and 18, things will get serious at the Rally du Pays du Gier, when the 2017 season officially kicks off with the first race.
In the following action-packed video, the two teams are introduced as part of a "Fun Rally". In it, Joël Rappaz and Christian Blanchard drift the hell out of their vehicles on the Fun Planet Villeneuve kart track!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPu2VsINirA&feature=youtu.be
