Laurent Reuche (Peugeot 207 S2000) won the 52^nd edition of the Rallye International du Valais. With this victory, he is crowned the 2011 Swiss Rally Champion. Eight-time winner of the RIV, Olivier Burri finishes second in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X. The event was marked by a long list of retirements.

At the end of the first of the three legs - the rally route totalled 709 km with 17 special stages, youngster Laurent Reuche, 36, from Le Locle), was third overall. Then a lot happened. The special stage of « Les Cols » - 37 kilometres - and the following stages sealed the fate of the race. None of the top drivers escaped unhurt from these stages. Ivan Ballinari broke the alternator belt of his Peugeot and Nicolas Althaus (Peugeot 207 S2000) lost six minutes because of a puncture that he had to change, losing a lot of time as the jack did not work properly.

Laurent Reuche also lost three minutes to the leader, Ivan Ballinari, after a puncture in SS 5, dropping to six overall. Thanks to his experience, Reuche made up time quickly. On the demanding roads around Martigny and Sion, Reuche did not make any mistakes and the end of his race was beyond reproach. The driver from Neuchâtel climbed to second at the end of SS 7 after the retirement of Portuguese Bernardo Sousa (Peugeot 207 S2000), a habitué in the World Rally Championship. In the eighth special stage, Laurent Reuche demonstrated his talent by passing eight-time Rallye du Valais winner Olivier Burri (Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X) to take the lead.

From then, Laurent Reuche remained in command until the end of the event. During this third and last leg, he drove without taking risks and using the brain and with six fastest times he managed to save a 2min04.6sec over second placed, Olivier Burri. With this third victory in the season Laurent Reuche reached Martigny winning the Rallye international du Valais and being crowned the 2011 Swiss Rally Champion!

The third of this Swiss trio was Nicolas Althaus (Peugeot 207 S2000) who collected a puncture and lost more than three minutes to drop to 13^th overall. Finally, his five stage wins allowed him to climb to fifth overall.

In the last 11-kilometre stage, Swiss Urs Hunziker (Subaru Impreza) had to surrender his third place to the Czech driver Antonin Tlustak (Skoda Fabia S2000). Hunziker was therefore out of the podium for only 2.2 seconds.

Former ski champion and local hero Philippe Roux (Peugeot 207 S2000) finished seventh overall behind Antonio Galli (Citroën DS3).

N° 97 (Claude-Alain Cornuz / Dario Lopez - Honda Civic) retired - mechanical in SS 14

N° 49 (Joël Rappaz / Gaël Delasoie - Citroën C2 R2 Max) retired - mechanical in SS 15

N° 76 (Joël Tissières / Aurèle Vernay - renault Clio RS) retired - off road in SSS 15

N° 29 (Xavier Craviolini / Yannick Micheloud - Honda Civic Type-R) retired - brake problem in SS11

N° 18 (Stefan Göttig / Andreas von Skopnik - Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX) retired - mechanical after SS11

N° 81 (Pascal Bron / Quentin Maschaud - Renault Clio) retired - mechanical in SS13

N° 10 (Jean-Philippe Radoux / jean-Noël Grégoire - Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX) retired - mechanical in SS 14

2 Jan Skalloud, co-driver to Antonin Tlustak (Skoda Fabia S2000)

Today we push very hard to improve our position. We only have to be very careful in a stage like "Verbier" because it is really technical. In the afternoon we will attack. It's my second time here in the Rallye du Valais. I like the rally in general but I don't like the gravel sections as the setup of our car is for tarmac. Otherwise, it's a nice event, the place is beautiful and I really enjoy being here.

7 Laurent Reuche (Peugeot 207 S2000)

The first two special stages were quite tricky but we know them and we know that it's damp in places. We take no chances and in "La Croix de Coeur" it was again difficult because there was still a bit of ice and snow. The major problem was that we had too many information in the pace-notes and it was difficult to follow them. The first downhill section is fast with very slippery patches. At the end of the stage the last downhill section is narrow with first/second gear hairpins. It's a purple passage but it's nice! The target is to go as fast as possible because this car must be driven at speed otherwise nothing works properly but we didn't take risks, I brake earlier and I avoid cutting the corners.

8 Nicolas Althaus (Peugeot 207 S2000)

Everything went well this morning. We were fully awake, unlike our rivals apparently, but in the last stage [SS13] the clutch broke so I lost my concentration. Also the setup of the car was a bit too hard for that stage but it was good for the first two. Altogether, it was OK. This morning my target was to try and catch Urs Hunziker for third spot. Now it's getting difficult but who knows something can still happen to the guys in front...

12 Urs Hunziker (Subaru Impreza)

We have been cautious in the first two special stages this morning because it was quite damp and cold. So we played it safe. In Verbier [SS13], the conditions were much better and the car was behaving exactly the way I wanted so I was able to attack, which resulted in a second fastest time. As I cannot catch Olivier Burri - who is a professional driver with a huge experience while it's only my third year in rallying - my aim is to keep Nicolas Althaus at bay and maybe to make it on the podium in the end.

15 Olivier Burri (Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X)

In the first two stages, I had a good feeling. I only just begin to understand this car. However, we had nothing to gain, lose or prove. The target was to avoid punctures since we have a comfortable lead over our nearest opponent in third place.  

16 Philippe Roux (Peugeot 207 S2000)

In the first stage, I didn't dare to go flat out as I couldn't find a good rhythm. In the last one [SS13] I started quite well then I had to back off a little because I was lacking breath. I drove well until the last few kilometres and again in the downhill section towards the end of the stage, I slowed down. This stage is fantastic but you need to be hundred percent fit.

5 Bernardo Sousa (Peugeot 207 S2000)

We started the day with the aim of winning the rally. We set some good times and my confidence was growing. After the first service this morning, where everything was checked and proved OK, we were heading towards the start of the next SS when we realised that a half-shaft was broken. Nevertheless, we managed to keep a one-minute advantage in the overall classification. But in the following stage, there was a hairpin then a left hander and the car went just straight. We couldn't stop and we hit a wall. That was it. It's a shame that we couldn't finish and maybe win the event. It was my first time with this car and with this team and I think we did well before our retirement. I lacked a little bit experience but this rally went very well for us and I sure want to be here to try and win it. I'd also like to say thank you to all those who supported us, particularly the many Portuguese fans who live here and were flocking the stages.

7 Laurent Reuche (Peugeot 207 S2000)

We had a bad start to the leg. We collected a puncture in SS5. Then a lot happened. Nicolas Althaus - and several others - also collected a puncture and all those in front were retiring one after the other or hit trouble. During the first loop I had not a good feeling. We made adjustments to the setup of the car and the second part of the day was much better because I felt very comfortable with the car. I tried to avoid making mistakes. Finally, for the last loop, I played tactics, attacking when the road was clean and being cautious when there was too much dirt. My major aim was to avoid punctures. For the last day, there are still a lot of competitive kilometres and I will have to keep my concentration and again to avoid punctures. I think that punctures are often due to a mistake rather than bad luck. This year, the Rallye du Valais is quite tough especially because of the new stages or part of stages. With a car like that, it's very difficult on gravel when the settings are for asphalt. I was worrying a lot when I saw every driver taking the lead retiring soon after that. Anyway, tomorrow we will have to attack because those cars do not work properly if you drive them slowly and it's also a good way to keep the concentration.

8 Nicolas Althaus (Peugeot 207 S2000)

The day ended less well than it began. We had a puncture that cost us a lot of time because the jack was jammed. Apart from that, I'm happy because we have shown a good pace. However, now, we can only hope that Laurent Reuche has a problem but I don't wish him.

12 Urs Hunziker (Subaru Impreza)

Everything is under control. We started the rally learning the roads and increased our pace gradually.

15 Nicolas Klinger, co-driver to Olivier Burri (Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X)

I'm happy because it my first time with no puncture in the "Col des Planches" since I first took part in the Rallye du Valais. We've been leading the rally after SS7, but this was mainly due to the problems of the others and we did not focus on that. We knew that it would last long because our car is a 1600kg class 3 so there was nothing we could do against the S2000 cars. Olivier has a huge experience and he knows how to save the brakes. When they lose efficiency, he let them rest before attacking again. He's driving with the brain.

16 Philippe Roux (Peugeot 207 S2000)

Thanks to the several retirements in front, I made up places in the overall classification, which is good for me. But the most important thing is that I feel better and better in the car. The more I drive, the more I get good times and they also get closer to the young boys ahead. I also switched to slick tyres and that proved to be the right choice.