Take a Sunday rally drive with Valtteri Bottas

©BastienRoux

Valtteri Bottas rounded off his 2019 season with a rally outing in a French event at Paul Ricard this weekend, achieving an overall win for good measure.

The Mercedes driver made his rally debut back in January this year, steering a Ford Fiesta WRC at the Arctic Lapland Rally.

The Finn switched to a Citroen DS3 for this weekend's Rallye Circuit Côte d'Azur, a three-day event which took place at and around the Paul Ricard track.

©BastienRoux

Bottas' mount was one of five WRC machines entered in the rally and he was on it from the outset, taking the lead after the off-circuit second stage and keeping himself in charge thereafter, helped no doubt by the fact that the entire took place either on tarmac roads or familiar portions of the Ricard track itself.
Overall, Bottas outpaced the Skoda Fabia R5 of former European Rally Championship competitor Robert Consani.

Get in the co-driver's seat and strap yourself in alongside Bottas for an onboard view of SS2.

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.