Stephane Prevot

Date of birth: 7 January 1969
Place of birth: Huy, Belgium
Lives: Huy, Belgium
Marital status: Lives with Sandrine, one child, Clara
First rally: 1987
WRC debut: 1989 RAC Rally
Hobbies: Reading, collecting watches

Stephane Prevot joins the Subaru World Rally Team as Chris Atkinson’s co–driver. A veteran of more than 100 rallies at European and World
Championship level, Stephane’s experience will be a huge bonus as Chris strives to capitalise on his reputation as a future WRC champion.


Starting early
As a child in Belgium, Stephane s imagination was captured by the local Rallye Condroz that ran close to his home in Huy. By 12 years old his sights were
set on professional rallying and only one week after passing his driving test he was sitting in the co–drivers seat guiding a friend in a Belgian
rally.

Stephane tried his hand at driving, but recognised that his talents lay in the skilled preparation and detail of co–driving. As a student in the
late 80s Stephane competed in rallies in the Belgian Championship, but very soon was obliged to decide between his studies and the sport. He chose
rallying. The following year, Stephane guided his fellow countryman, Marc Timmers, to victory in the 1990 championship in a Mitsubishi Galant Group
N car.

Onwards and upwards
The following year Stephane joined forces with Belgian Bruno Thiry, a partnership that was to last over 12 years. The duo contested the 1991 Tour de
Corse in an Opel Kadett GSI 16V run by Opel Team Belgium and remained with the team for the 1992 and 1993 seasons. In only their fifth WRC level event,
the pair achieved a second–placed finish in the Rallye Côte d Ivoire Bandama

For the 1994 season the pair moved to the factory Ford team and an Escort RS Cosworth. En route to fifth position in the drivers championship they
achieved some strong finishes, including third in the Rally of Great Britain. Prevot and Thiry remained with Ford for another two years and scored
a further two podium positions at the end of the 1996 season in Sanremo and Catalunya.

European and World rallying
In addition to occasional WRC duties, the pair returned to their European rallying roots. Success came quickly and they secured a return to the Ford
team for the 1998 World Rally Championship. For 1999 Prevot and Thiry moved to the Subaru World Rally Team and started the season well with a fifth
place in Monte Carlo. The same year Stephane also partnered a number of other drivers in European rallies, scoring three victories and securing the
co–drivers championship.

A return to WRC
The Thiry–Prevot partnership was revived for the 2001 season at Skoda and with the Peugeot Bastos Racing Team in 2002. At the end of that year
Stephane joined forces with upcoming young driver Francois Duval for a return to Ford in 2003. When Duval moved to Citroen in 2004 he took Stephane
with him and together the pair raced to second place in Rally Mexico and Rallye Deutschland in the Xsara WRC.

In 2006 Stephane returned to the Subaru World Rally Team, this time alongside Stephane Sarrazin. Together, the pair contested four asphalt WRC events
and played a significant part in the team’s tyre development testing programme.

"Chris and I were working well at the end of last year, although the first few rallies this year, until Argentina, will be tougher as we haven’t
done them together before. But I think we can go well this year and push for podiums and points, and to show that we have competitive pace."
Stephane Prevot

Stephane will sit alongside Chris Atkinson for a second year, the duo having formed last year when the Belgian joined the Subaru World Rally Team in
April 2007, in time for Rally Argentina.

He is a remarkably experienced co–driver who has competed in over 100 rallies at both European and World Championship level. This wealth of knowledge,
coupled with his dedication and commitment to rally preparation brought a great deal to the relationship last year, and the duo clinched 13 stage wins.

Even as a child Stephane was incredibly focussed, setting his sights on a career in rallying from the age of 12. His imagination captured by the
Rallye Condroz that ran close to his home, he made good his promise and only one week after passing his driving test he co–drove a friend in an
event in the Belgian Championship.

He and Chris completed 11 rallies together last season, and as their working relationship develops with each rally they contest, so too does their
pace and competitiveness. After numerous stage wins alongside Chris in 2007 and his past European successes, Stephane is keen for success on the world stage.


Career history
2007: Prevot re–joined the Subaru World Rally Team as Atkinson’s co–driver in time for Rally Argentina. The duo completed the remaining 11 rallies together to finish
seventh overall in the World Rally Championship
2006: Returning to the Subaru World Rally Team, Prevot and Stephane Sarrazin contested four asphalt WRC rallies
2005: Competed in the World Rally Championship with Francois Duval
2004: Moving to Citroen alongside Francois Duval, the duo secured second places on Rally Mexico and Rallye Deutschland
2002: Competed for the Peugeot Bastos team in the WRC
2001: Competed for Skoda in the WRC
2000: Prevot debuted with the Subaru World Rally Team
1999: Won the European Rally Cup with Thiry, and the duo ended the year by signing for the Subaru World Rally Team
1998: After occasional WRC events and a great deal of local events, Prevot secured a return to the WRC with Ford
1994: Signed with the factory Ford rally team and finished in fifth place in the World Rally Championship
1992: In only the pair’s fifth WRC event, Prevot and Thiry finished second on the WRC Ivory Coast Rally
1991: Debuted alongside Bruno Thiry in an Opel Kadett
1990: Co–piloted fellow Belgian Marc Timmers to victory in the Belgian Rally Champion in Group N
1989: Prevot made his WRC debut, and chose rallying over completing his education when the number of commitments became unmanageable
1987: Rally debut in the Belgian Championship, where he honed his skills and became hooked on rallying



Back To Biographies
Images
Ypres 2008 Finland 2008 Finland 2008 Finland 2008