Bruno Thiry
Encyclopedia
Bruno Thiry is a Belgian
rally
driver. He was born in St. Vith, Province of Liège.
He began his career as an amateur in 1981, driving a Simca
, and quickly became very successful in the Belgian Rally Championship. In 1994, he joined the Ford team to contest the World Rally Championship
, driving a Ford Escort RS Cosworth
. In these years, he managed several third places; on the RAC Rally in 1994 and on Rally San Remo and the Rally Catalunya
in 1996. He finished 5th overall in the WRC standings in 1994.
In 1997, he won the Rally of the Azores in a privately entered Escort Cosworth. The following year saw Thiry continue in the Ford, then in 1999 he campaigned a Subaru Impreza
in his role as third driver for the Subaru World Rally Team.
2001 saw Thiry join the Skoda
team and he had a disappointing year in the Octavia WRC. His highest placings that year were 8th place on the Monte Carlo Rally
, the Cyprus Rally
and Rally Great Britain.
In 2002 and 2003, the Peugeot 206
WRC was Thiry's vehicle of choice. He won the Ypres Rally both years, and became European Champion
in 2003 after five victories. In 2004, he was runner-up in a Citroën C2 S1600.
Since 2005, Thiry has more or less retired from motorsport and only occasionally competes on events. A notable recent result was second place on the Rally of Condroz in 2006, driving a Peugeot 307 WRC. His co-driver for most of his rallying career was fellow-Belgian Stéphane Prévot.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
rally
Rallying
Rallying, also known as rally racing, is a form of auto racing that takes place on public or private roads with modified production or specially built road-legal cars...
driver. He was born in St. Vith, Province of Liège.
He began his career as an amateur in 1981, driving a Simca
Simca
Simca was a French automaker, founded in November 1934 by Fiat. It was directed from July 1935 to May 1963 by the Italian Henri Théodore Pigozzi...
, and quickly became very successful in the Belgian Rally Championship. In 1994, he joined the Ford team to contest the World Rally Championship
World Rally Championship
The World Rally Championship is a rallying series organised by the FIA, culminating with a champion driver and manufacturer. The driver's world championship and manufacturer's world championship are separate championships, but based on the same point system. The series currently consists of 13...
, driving a Ford Escort RS Cosworth
Ford Escort RS Cosworth
The Ford Escort RS Cosworth was a sports derivative of the Ford Escort. It was available from 1992-96 in very limited numbers.It was instantly recognisable due to its large "whale tail" rear spoiler...
. In these years, he managed several third places; on the RAC Rally in 1994 and on Rally San Remo and the Rally Catalunya
Rally Catalunya
The Rally Catalunya is a rally competition on the World Rally Championship schedule. Now held on the wide, smooth and sweeping asphalt roads around the town of Salou, Catalonia, Spain, it was previously held around the region of Costa Brava...
in 1996. He finished 5th overall in the WRC standings in 1994.
Subaru Impreza
Introduced in November 1993, the Impreza was offered in either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive versions and as a four-door sedan/saloon or five-door station wagon/estate. According to a Motor Trend article written March 1992 on page 26, the name of Subaru's new compact was, initially, to be...
in his role as third driver for the Subaru World Rally Team.
2001 saw Thiry join the Skoda
Škoda Auto
Škoda Auto , more commonly known as Škoda, is an automobile manufacturer based in the Czech Republic. Škoda became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group in 2000, positioned as the entry brand to the group...
team and he had a disappointing year in the Octavia WRC. His highest placings that year were 8th place on the Monte Carlo Rally
Monte Carlo Rally
The Monte Carlo Rally or Rally Monte Carlo is a rallying event organised each year by the Automobile Club de Monaco which also organises the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix and the Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique. The rally takes place along the French Riviera in the Principality of Monaco and...
, the Cyprus Rally
Cyprus Rally
The Cyprus Rally is a rallying competition held yearly in Cyprus since 1970. The event is run by the Cyprus Automobile Association and is based in the city of Limassol . It is run on the winding roads of the nearby mountains of Troödos. It was part of the FIA's World Rally Championship from 2000...
and Rally Great Britain.
In 2002 and 2003, the Peugeot 206
Peugeot 206
The Peugeot 206 is a supermini car, manufactured by the French automaker Peugeot from 1998 to 2010.Even though the 206 has finished production in most markets as of 2010, in Europe since 2009, it is available the 206+, with a back and especially a front design that resembles the Peugeot 207.-The...
WRC was Thiry's vehicle of choice. He won the Ypres Rally both years, and became European Champion
European Rally Championship
The European Rally Championship is the European continental championship series in rallying. It is organised by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile .-History:...
in 2003 after five victories. In 2004, he was runner-up in a Citroën C2 S1600.
Since 2005, Thiry has more or less retired from motorsport and only occasionally competes on events. A notable recent result was second place on the Rally of Condroz in 2006, driving a Peugeot 307 WRC. His co-driver for most of his rallying career was fellow-Belgian Stéphane Prévot.