Jesús Puras
Encyclopedia
Jesús Puras Vidal de la Peña (born March 16, 1963 in Santander, Cantabria
), also known as 'Chus Puras', is a Spanish rally
driver active in the World Rally Championship
from 1991 to 2002. Puras was well-known for his blistering performances on tarmac rallies.
Puras debuted in rallying in 1982 and captured the Spanish Rally Championship
title eight times; in 1990 and 1992 with a Lancia Delta Integrale 16V, in 1995 and 1997 with a Citroën ZX
16S, from 1998 to 2000 with a Citroën Xsara
Kit Car and in 2002 with a Citroën Xsara WRC. Driving a Ford Escort RS Cosworth
, he also won the 1994 FIA Group N
Cup (now the Production World Rally Championship
).
Along with teammate Philippe Bugalski
, he was chosen by the Citroën Total World Rally Team
to be part of their driver line-up for the first bit-part campaign with the Citroën Xsara WRC in 1999. He secured his only WRC win at the 2001 Tour de Corse
with co-driver
Marc Martí
(who then went on to pilot former double world champion Carlos Sainz
and in recent years, Dani Sordo
).
However, with performances overshadowed by the upcoming Sébastien Loeb
, he retired from the Citroën factory team and the WRC in 2002, ending with a sixth place in his last rally - the 2002 Rallye Sanremo
.
Santander, Cantabria
The port city of Santander is the capital of the autonomous community and historical region of Cantabria situated on the north coast of Spain. Located east of Gijón and west of Bilbao, the city has a population of 183,446 .-History:...
), also known as 'Chus Puras', is a Spanish 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 active in 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...
from 1991 to 2002. Puras was well-known for his blistering performances on tarmac rallies.
Career
Spanish Rally Championship
The Spanish Rally Championship is the most important rally championship in Spain.- Champions :Driver Championship...
title eight times; in 1990 and 1992 with a Lancia Delta Integrale 16V, in 1995 and 1997 with a Citroën ZX
Citroën ZX
The Citroën ZX is a small family car produced by the French manufacturer Citroën between 1991 and 1998.During the 1990s, the ZX was Citroën's competitor in the class traditionally dominated in Europe by the Ford Escort and Vauxhall/Opel Astra, a market segment Citroën had moved away from when the...
16S, from 1998 to 2000 with a Citroën Xsara
Citroën Xsara
The Citroën Xsara is a small family car produced by French automaker Citroën from 1997 to 2006.Like its predecessor, the Citroën ZX, the Xsara shares running gear with the Peugeot 306....
Kit Car and in 2002 with a Citroën Xsara WRC. 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...
, he also won the 1994 FIA Group N
Group N
In relation to motorsport governed by the FIA, Group N refers to a set of regulations providing 'standard' production vehicles for competition, often referred to as the "Showroom Class"....
Cup (now the Production World Rally Championship
Production World Rally Championship
The FIA Production World Rally Championship, or PWRC, is a companion rally series to the World Rally Championship, and is driven on the same stages. PWRC is limited to production-based cars homologated under the Group N. The series began in 2002, replacing the FIA Group N Rally Championship...
).
Along with teammate Philippe Bugalski
Philippe Bugalski
Philippe Bugalski is a former French rally driver. By the mid 90s he was a regular top-choice tarmac specialist for Citroen along with team mate Jesús Puras. However, as the Citroën Total World Rally Team became a big name for Group A employing such drivers as Sébastien Loeb he was frequently...
, he was chosen by the Citroën Total World Rally Team
Citroën Total World Rally Team
The Citroën Total World Rally Team is the Citroën factory backed entry into the World Rally Championship, run by Citroën Racing.-Management:* Olivier Quesnel – team director* Xavier Mestelan-Pinon – technical director-1990-1998 Seasons:...
to be part of their driver line-up for the first bit-part campaign with the Citroën Xsara WRC in 1999. He secured his only WRC win at the 2001 Tour de Corse
Tour de Corse
The Tour de Corse - Rallye de France is a rally first held in 1956 on the island of Corsica. It was part of the World Rally Championship from the inaugural 1973 season to 2008. The name "Tour de Corse" refers to the fact that in the early days it was run around the island; nowadays it only features...
with co-driver
Co-driver
Co-driver is the term given to the navigator of rally car in the sport of rally racing, who sits in the front passenger seat. The co-driver's job is to navigate, by reading off a set of pacenotes to the driver, often over a radio headset, due to the high level of noise in the car...
Marc Martí
Marc Martí
Marc Martí Moreno is a Spanish rally co-driver. He debuted in the World Rally Championship as a co-driver to Oriol Gómez in 1992. In the 1999 season, he began his partnership with Jesús Puras and the Citroën factory team. The pair took a surprise second place at the 1999 Tour de Corse, behind...
(who then went on to pilot former double world champion Carlos Sainz
Carlos Sainz
Carlos Sainz Cenamor is a Spanish rally driver. He won the World Rally Championship drivers' title with Toyota in 1990 and 1992, and finished runner-up four times...
and in recent years, Dani Sordo
Dani Sordo
Daniel "Dani" Sordo Castillo is a Spanish rally driver. He competes in the World Rally Championship for the Mini WRC Team...
).
However, with performances overshadowed by the upcoming Sébastien Loeb
Sébastien Loeb
Sébastien Loeb is a French rally driver currently driving for the Citroën World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship...
, he retired from the Citroën factory team and the WRC in 2002, ending with a sixth place in his last rally - the 2002 Rallye Sanremo
Rallye Sanremo
Rallye Sanremo is a rally competition held in Sanremo, Italy. Except for the 1995 event, the event was part of the FIA World Rally Championship schedule from the 1973 season to the 2003 season. Currently, it is a round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge and the Italian national rally...
.
WRC victories
| # | Event | Season | Co-driver | Car |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  45ème Tour de Corse - Rallye de FranceTour de Corse The Tour de Corse - Rallye de France is a rally first held in 1956 on the island of Corsica. It was part of the World Rally Championship from the inaugural 1973 season to 2008. The name "Tour de Corse" refers to the fact that in the early days it was run around the island; nowadays it only features... |
2001 | Marc Martí Marc Martí Marc Martí Moreno is a Spanish rally co-driver. He debuted in the World Rally Championship as a co-driver to Oriol Gómez in 1992. In the 1999 season, he began his partnership with Jesús Puras and the Citroën factory team. The pair took a surprise second place at the 1999 Tour de Corse, behind... |
Citroën Xsara WRC |