Alexandre Bengué
Encyclopedia
Alexandre Bengué is a French
rally
driver. Bengué was a factory driver for Škoda Motorsport
in the World Rally Championship
in 2005, before scoring two points finishes as a privateer in 2006.
, winning one round. In the following year he won four rounds on the way to being crowned French Asphalt Rally Champion. He also took part in the Tour de Corse
in a Peugeot 206 WRC, but was forced to retire with a mechanical issue.
In 2004 he again won four French championship rounds, but missed out on the title finishing second. He took part in two WRC rounds, finishing tenth on Rallye Deutschland
but again having to retire while running eighth overall. In November he was announced as a driver for the factory Škoda Motorsport
team for the 2005 season. He would driving the team's second car on asphalt events.
He finished ninth on his debut with the team on the Monte Carlo Rally
, taking two stage victories on the second day. His next outing for the team came in Germany, but he retired after going off the road on the third stage. His third start for the team was on his home round in Corsica, where he finished in sixth place, matching the best ever result for the Škoda Fabia WRC. His fourth and final rally for the team was on Rally Catalunya
, but he was forced to retire. Škoda Motorsport withdrew from the WRC at the end of 2005.
For 2006 Bengué entered the Catalunya and Corsica rounds in a Peugeot 307 WRC for the BSA team. He finished fourth overall in Spain, and then finished fifth in France.
In 2008 Bengué returned to the French championship and won two rounds in a 307 WRC.
In 2010 Bengué was announced to be part of a five-round Intercontinental Rally Challenge
programme with British firm Motor Sports Developments and tyre firm Hankook
in an Opel Corsa OPC Super 2000
. They were forced to retire from their first rally in Ypres on the first stage due to engine damage. Bengué never competed in the car again.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
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. Bengué was a factory driver for Škoda Motorsport
Škoda Motorsport
Škoda Motorsport is the division of Czech car manufacturer Škoda Auto responsible for motorsport activities. Škoda competed as a manufacturer in the World Rally Championship between 1999 and 2005, and today competes in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge....
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...
in 2005, before scoring two points finishes as a privateer in 2006.
Career
Bengué began his rally career in 1998 when he won the Volant Rally Jeunes competition organised by the Fédération Française du Sport Automobile (FFSA). In 2002 he began competing in the French Rally Championship in a Peugeot 206 WRCPeugeot 206 WRC
Peugeot 206 WRC is a World Rally Car based on the Peugeot 206. It was used by Peugeot Sport, Peugeot's factory team, in the World Rally Championship from 1999 to 2003. The car brought Peugeot the manufacturers' world title three years in a row from 2000 to 2002...
, winning one round. In the following year he won four rounds on the way to being crowned French Asphalt Rally Champion. He also took part in the 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...
in a Peugeot 206 WRC, but was forced to retire with a mechanical issue.
In 2004 he again won four French championship rounds, but missed out on the title finishing second. He took part in two WRC rounds, finishing tenth on Rallye Deutschland
Rallye Deutschland
The ADAC Rallye Deutschland is a rally event held in Germany. The event was first held in 1982 and originally hosted by e.g. Frankfurt, Mainz and Koblenz. In 2000, the rally was relocated to the region around Trier...
but again having to retire while running eighth overall. In November he was announced as a driver for the factory Škoda Motorsport
Škoda Motorsport
Škoda Motorsport is the division of Czech car manufacturer Škoda Auto responsible for motorsport activities. Škoda competed as a manufacturer in the World Rally Championship between 1999 and 2005, and today competes in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge....
team for the 2005 season. He would driving the team's second car on asphalt events.
He finished ninth on his debut with the team 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...
, taking two stage victories on the second day. His next outing for the team came in Germany, but he retired after going off the road on the third stage. His third start for the team was on his home round in Corsica, where he finished in sixth place, matching the best ever result for the Škoda Fabia WRC. His fourth and final rally for the team was on 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...
, but he was forced to retire. Škoda Motorsport withdrew from the WRC at the end of 2005.
For 2006 Bengué entered the Catalunya and Corsica rounds in a Peugeot 307 WRC for the BSA team. He finished fourth overall in Spain, and then finished fifth in France.
In 2008 Bengué returned to the French championship and won two rounds in a 307 WRC.
In 2010 Bengué was announced to be part of a five-round Intercontinental Rally Challenge
Intercontinental Rally Challenge
The Intercontinental Rally Challenge is a rallying series organised by SRW Ltd and sanctioned by the FIA, aiming to "give new opportunities to young or amateur rally drivers competing in recognised regional and international rallies, while offering organisers an innovative TV format concept,...
programme with British firm Motor Sports Developments and tyre firm Hankook
Hankook Tire
The Hankook Tire group, based in Seoul, South Korea is the seventh largest tire company in the world. Established in 1941 as the Chosun Tire Company, it was renamed Hankook Tire Manufacturing in 1968....
in an Opel Corsa OPC Super 2000
Opel Corsa
The front-wheel drive Opel Corsa was first launched in September 1982 to replace the Opel Kadett C City, and to fill the gap vacated as the Kadett grew in size and price. Built in Zaragoza, Spain, the first Corsas were three-door hatchback and two-door saloon models, with four-door and five-door...
. They were forced to retire from their first rally in Ypres on the first stage due to engine damage. Bengué never competed in the car again.