bos-engineering-news

26 / 09 / 07 - European championship:
Olivier Bossard, second in Sczech Rep. ends the championships in third place
Always in the run for the obtaining of the third overall ranking position in the European championship, Olivier Bossard had settled a double objective before the last event of the series, in Czech Republic: to secure this third rank, which was his admitted goal since the beginning of the season, and to end with a strong result, aboard his more and more performing C2, but which he did not led on any European podium yet. He finally left Sosnovà, completely satisfied, since he made the full job !

The binomial C2 S1600 / Bossard begins to perform, That's the least we can say. During the Polish race competed here is one week, he had already showed his prowills, but did not have been able to concretize in final, because of failing oil pressure. In Sosnovà, the performances were clearly better, and the work made during this year, in race conditions, should be paying in 2008, if Olivier continues with his C2. But this is another story, that we may tell you later...

But at this time the main ibjective, was essentially to get back the third place of the championship, delighted by the Czech Cermak during the previous race. However, although fourth in the temporary "gross" classification, Olivier was not the worst placed of the two pretenders. By being absent in Norway, he knew that he would not deduct any point from his capital. Cermak, as for him, should deduct his worst result, which means, eleven points before finale. If both drivers qualified themselves in the top 6, the Czech was obliged to win to outstrip the Frenchman.

Rather reassured by a good context, Olivier knew that he just had to lead well his boat to secure a convincing result, as far as he feels better and better aboard his C2. He realized a weekend very comparable to what he has shown repeatedly in the first half season. He drove safely during the chrono tests to learn the track and check his level, then a progressive increase in power, which allowed him to end second in his first heat, with the fourth best time overall.

On Sunday, Olivier whows his ambition by winning his second heat, and by realizing the second time overall behind Pinomaki (with BOS dampers too !) untouchable this weekend. And if Cermak wins the ultimate qualifying series, it will not be sufficient as he will not be qualified in final. The C2 BOS is classified second of the same series, and gains its ticket for the first row, beside Jussi Pinomaki 's Clio. A front row exclusively composed of BOS equipped cars, so ! But the more important remains that Cermak out of the top 6, Olivier has already clinched the third place in the final ranking of the championship, therefore, he only has to soncentrate on the race, in order to lead the C2 on its first podium.

There won't be any surprise during the final : the places of the front row are preserved at the first corner, and they will not change until the finish line. Pinomaki thus leads in front of Bossard and De Keersmaecker. With the fifth place of Olivier's former Saxo, led by Hvaal, we find three BOS equipped cars in the top five!

OBJECTIVE CLEARED
What a season! When he got to race the first European event in Portugal, Olivier did not know if he was going to compete in the French championship D4 or for Europe D1A. Third at the conclusion of this round, then third again in France, he decided finally to make the step, and to go fighting with the big guys directly in European elite, without passing by the " Champion of France " square.

His claimed objective was then to end third of the championship. The ideal waybill included a systematic qualification in finale, most podiums possible, and a potential victory... which arrived in the next event, followed by a fourth podium, after the Austrian retirement. If the second half of summer was a little more complicated, with the difficult setting up of a new car meanwhile the races are going on, Olivier however showed a rare constancy in the top 5, and he performed all his objectives post Portugal. He just had one retirement in Austria, vdur to technical problems, and a DNS in Norway, as he had to be present at a testing session for an impoirtaznt customer of Bos Engineering.

Professional life is sometimes uncompatible with the one of driver. For the rest he is the only driver of the champoionship to have qualified himself into the final in each race ! And only De Keersmaecker (2007 champion) counts more podiums than hilm ! For a first season at this level, it is simply exceptional.

European championship final ranking

Pos	pilote	Nat	auto	Por	Fra	Hun	Aut	Sue	Nor	Bel	Ned	Pol	CZ	total
1	M. De Keersmaecker	Bel	Opel Corsa	17	20	17	(8)	20	(9)	17	17	12	15	135
2	J. Kalny	CZ	Peugeot 206	--	17	12	20	10	12	20	20	13	(8)	124
3	O. Bossard	Fra	Citroën C2 S1600	15	15	20	--	17	--	12	13	11	17	120
4	Z. Cermak	CZ	Skoda Fabia	20	11	11	11	(1)	11	11	15	15	(10)	105
5	J. Pinomaki	Fin	Renault Clio	--	9	6	17	6	15	13	(6)	17	20	103
6	C. Petrakovits	Aut	Seat Ibiza	--	13	15	15	12	7	8	(2)	4	11	85

26 / 09 / 07 - European championship (communiqué Bos-Engineering)
First podium Olivier Bossard's Citroën C2 S 1600
By scoring the second place in Sosnovà, Olivier Bossard reached his initial objective : end his first European Rallycross championship in the top 3. On the other hand, it is a first podium for the Citroën C2 S1600 which it has used for the first time at the mid season.

We remember that at midseason, Olivier Bossard, then clasiified second in the european championship rankings, had made a risky change of car, by switching from his Saxo Kit Car toa brand new C2 S 1600.

Although the Saxo, with which he had competed for one and a half season in French D4 fits like a second skin to him, it was at the end of possible development, and it would have been difficult (impossible) to gain more performances from it. Olivier knew that his opponents, would not lose any occasion to improve their equipment.

As he could not be present to the openning race of the second half of the season, due to professional reasons, he had no any other choice than scoring big points in all of the remaining races. But, on the other hand, this DNS allowed him, and his crew, more time to built a new car. The french championship race, in Kerlabo, one week before his retrun to the European series in Belgium, could help him to test his car in race conditions.
Unfortunately, Olivier's crew will not manage to finish the car in time for Kerlabo, and the driver will have to content himself with doing some laps in Mayenne, to rough-hew the main settings and to adapt him to the car, as well as the car to him...
Olivier has to admit that he took a risk, while changing car during the season for a brand new one. But it was clearly a calculated risk, since Olivier spent a lot of time in the passenger seat, beside Citroën official drivers, while setting up the S1600 car for JWRC. He knew very well the car, and its potential.

Nevertheless, between a factory team, and the most professional amateur team, it will always remain a big difference, at least in terms of means. And it has needed a little more time than previously planned for the staff, as well as for the driver, to obtain the quintessence of the performance of C2, adapt it a minimum to rallycross, and fit dirver and car together. Usually you have a whole winter to make the job, when it had to be done in a few weeks, among races, for Olivier's team.

However, the first results were extremely satisfactory, proof that the car had a true potential. In Belgium, theater of the first "date" of the binomial, Olivier classified himself in fifth, not without having known any difficulties adjusting well the car, but by having also realizing promising times.
In Holland, Olivier decides to make a break, to take time to understand better the car, t alsoto try to secure a good result with Saxo, in the objective of the championship. Fourth at the conclusion of final, he realizes that C2, although still perfectible, possess a potential sharply superior to its former car. He thus decides to immediately sale this one.
In Poland, before the last test of the season, the duet progresses by giant steps. A first podium is in sight, but the adversity decides sometimes otherwise, and Olivier ends sixth, while he was on his way to fight for the third place in finale.

Then in Czech Republic, we met an Olivier Bossard fast, self confident, belligerent, behind the steering wheel of a totally transformed C2. We did not have to wait any longer for a stunning result, with a second place in the final, which gave to Olivier the third rank in the championship for his first participation, and offered to Citroën the first European podium for the C2.
A present which owes moreover a lot to... Citroën Sport itself. It is thanks to the intervention of the factory, that the car could deliver all his potential.
Between the Polish race and Czech final, Citroën Sport indeed gave a decisive assistance to the team of the Bos-Engineering C2, mainly in terms of engine behavior.
Olivier Bossard is thus very keen to thank deeply Citroën Sport for the precious help which was brought to him, in the quest of this very good result, for a first participation in the European championship. No doubt that the work made from this year will be extremely profitable next season, with obviously increased objectives.

12 / 06 07 - European Championship - Austria
Difficult days for Olivier Bossard in Austria
Before the autrian race, and despite his victory in Hungary, Olivier Bossard wasn't very confident : he didn't like the track : not enough technical, favourising powerfull engines, and the right place for "strikers"... All what he usually enjoys... with In fact this week-end has been a real nightmare, but not as Olivier thought it would be.
Once again, Bossard had some troubles with his clutch. The brand new one, insalled in the car one week before broke as soon as the first practices began. The only solution was to re-install the old one, still not worki,g correctly. And once it had be done, the qualifying practices bagan. fifth time of the pratice, the result was not so bad for a driver who couldn't test the track before. But th emain problem remained to start correctly in the first heat. There was no miracle, and olivier tooked a deserving fourth place. His aim was, then to save his plac e in the final, in order to clinch some good points for the championship.
But Sunday morning, the warm up brought a new disillusion, as the car was definitely out of order. Thus, Olivier had to give up...
De Keersmeacker, who's still leading the championship had also a bad result in Austria, finishing 8th, whereas Cermak is 3rd again (for the 6th time in a row), and Kalny wins easily.
Olivier is now 3rd in the shampionship rankings, but we will reach the middle of the season in Sweden for the next race, what means that, at this point, each driver will have to substract his baddest result. Therefore, we will have a clear view of the first half of the season after this race.

12 / 06 / 07 - French Championship - Luneville
Huet, Guillemette, Meslier : 3 class wins for BOS drivers
The BOS drivers clinched three class victories over 4 possible in last french championship event. Huet (D4), Guillemette (D2) and Meslier (D1). Meslier is now leading the D1 rankings, whereas Jan and Divaret still dominate the D4, despite Huet victory. Guillemete comes back int he D2 rankings, and Tertrais is still second, even if he crashed for the second time during the final (after Faleyras two weeks before).

03 / 06 / 2007 - European Championship - Hungary -
Olivier Bossard : first win in Europe !
After tow third places obtained in Portugal and France for his two first races in the European Championship, Olivier Bossard decided to focuse only on the European series, instead of racing in the french national cup. The tough races are more enjoyable for this former motocross racer ! And the challenge is more motivating for the Bos company owner, whom aim is a top three finish.

iN hUNGARY, Olivier definitively proved that he is a serious contender, as he clinched his first victory at this level. Fastest in the qualifications, then winner with authority of the final, he makes a perfect week-end, and moves up to the second place in the championship ranking.

30 / 11 / 06 : Bos launches the "Bos Drivers Challenge !"
Unfortunately for those reading this post from outside of France, the new promoting challenge organized by Bos-Engineering will only take place in France, in the national Rallycross series. It consists in rewarding the drivers whom cars are equipped with a full Bos dampers kit, during all the season, with price money. If crowned French Champion they will also win a stunning cheque from Bos-Engineering, as it has already been the case for our two 2006 national champs. With this system, indexed on the points obtained by the drivers during the championship, Bos could invest up to 27.220 Euros / year ! A D1 champ, the likes of Bertrand Divaret in 2006, would receive around 2.500 Euros from our company during autumn 2007
>> Read the press release (french / PDF file)

30 / 09 / 06: Rallycross: BOS’ final in D4 !
The French rallycross championship final has shown the victories of BOS’ pilots in D4: Bertrand Divaret, winner of the title, and Olivier Bossard, who managed to win his last race with his Saxo Kit Car Bos Engineering.
The title was far to be won in D4 before this final in Essay, following a season showing Divaret’s domination, then Jan’s return, and finally, during the last races, a messy fight. Through all this, Olivier Bossard showed his speed without managing to lead because of a few misadventures. Essay appeared to be the last challenge: title for Divaret and Jan, and ultimate achievement chance for Bossard.
As a matter of fact, the stopwatches were going to show Olivier Bossard’s superiority, in front of Dréan. Both of them then shared the qualification stages, while the competitors, probably under pressure, stayed a little bit behind. However, Divaret clearly showed he was in favourite position for victory, as Jan had to go through the final to classify himself.
Dréan started the final A from pole position in front of Bossard, but Bossard made his move to the lead first, ending up leading the race. Behind him, -surprise! - Thierry Jan comes out of the first corner at the second position right after coming out of the third line!
Jan is trying to fight his way up to Olivier Bossard, but the official Bos-Engineering’s Saxo pilot won’t give this opportunity away. And Divaret has to settle for the fifth position far away from the title...
Luck seemed quite close though, as Dréan, not Jan, had an electric problem in one of the last corners of the last round. With Dréan out of the race, Bertrand gains a step forward... and the Title of French Champion! Olivier Bossard drove away in front to offer a perfect race and ends up with a victory promised since the very beginning of the season.
In the end, it has been a successful weekend for Bos-Engineering, with Divaret’s title, and the owner’s victory!
In the other categories:
Patrick Maillard, second in D2, finishes French vice champion.
In D1, Marc Laboulle is imposing himself and finishes second of the championship, only one to resist surrounded by the five cars equipped with Bos all in the six finalists of the classifications!

24 / 08 / 06 : Rallycross french championship : BOS rules
At mid season, BOS dampers equipped cars are leading most of the categories, of the rallycross french championship, with an amazing top three in "Division 1", the most prestigious class.
If you don't know rallycross, you must imagine eight WRC cars on a very short track, with about 30% on the dirt, full gaz and really close together for five totally crazy laps.
After having dominated the championship last year with his Xsara WRC, developped in partnership with BOS, Olivier Anne is back this year with an awesome brand new C4 "WRC Spirit". The car has been built this winter, still with a great involvement from BOS, and was scheduled to be fully effiscient at mid season.
The goal has been completed, with Olivier's first victory, following a few top three finishes, at the sixth of eleven championships races.
But BOS is also highly represented in Division 1 by it's clients. BOS equipped cars have won all the races untill now ! Alexandre Theuil leads the championship with three wins, followed by Philippe Tollmer, with Anne's former Xsara (one win), then comes Olivier Anne in third position. The other BOS drivers are David Meslier (one win), in fifth place, and Mickaël Poirier (sixth).
BOS is also leading the Division 4 class with Bertrand Divaret (Citroën Saxo Kitcar), whon won three times this year. Olivier Bossard himself represent his company with his official BOS Saxo Kitcar. For his second season only, he shows a great speed, and was on the way for his first victory in Luneville when some electric problems stopped the car as he was leading the final. Too bad ! He strongly finished in third place three times, and keeps confident to win one race before the end of the season.