Bruno Thiry

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Bruno Thiry
Personal information
NationalityBelgium Belgian
Born (1962-10-08) 8 October 1962 (age 58)
St. Vith, Belgium
World Rally Championship record
Active years1991–2002
Co-driverBelgium
TeamsGeneral Motors Europe, Ford, Subaru, Škoda, Bastos racing team
Championships0
Rally wins0
Podiums5
Stage wins39
Total points173
First rally1989 Acropolis Rally
Last rally2002 San Remo Rally

Bruno Thiry (born 8 October 1962) is a Belgian rally driver. He was born in St. Vith, Liège Province.

He began his career as an amateur in 1981, driving a Simca, and quickly became very successful in the Belgian Rally Championship. by 1991 to 1993, he joined the GME team that contested only in some selected World Rally Championship (WRC) events and in non-WRC events. In 1992, he managed a first podium finish for him on the final running of the notorious Rallye Côte d'Ivoire and finished second in an ex-works Opel Kadett GSI. The following year saw Thiry win some WRC events in an Opel Astra in the F2 category and brought GME its first manufacturer's title of the inaugural FIA 2-Litre World Cup in 1993. 1994, the year saw Thiry join the Ford team to contest the WRC, driving a Ford Escort RS Cosworth. In these years, he managed several third places; in the RAC Rally in 1994 and in Rally San Remo and the Rally Catalunya in 1996. He finished fifth overall in the WRC standings in 1994.

Thiry at the 2001 Rally Finland.

In 1997, he won the Rally of the Azores in a privately entered Escort Cosworth. The following year saw Thiry continue with Ford and he contested thirteen events with the exception of the Safari Rally and Rally Portugal due to an accident that caused Thiry two broken ribs and he was replaced by Ari Vatanen as the second driver for the team. Then in 1999 he campaigned a Subaru Impreza in his role as third driver for the Subaru World Rally Team.

2001 saw Thiry joined the Škoda Motorsport team and he had a disappointing year in the Octavia WRC. His highest placings that year were eight place in the Monte Carlo Rally, the Cyprus Rally and Rally Great Britain.

In 2002 and 2003, the Peugeot 206 WRC was Thiry's vehicle of choice. He won the Ypres Rally both years, and became European Champion in 2003 after five victories. In 2004, he was runner-up in a Citroën C2 S1600.

Since 2005, Thiry has more or less retired from motorsport and only occasionally competes on events. A notable recent result was a second place on the Rally of Condroz in 2006, driving a Peugeot 307 WRC. His co-driver for most of his rallying career was fellow-Belgian .

Sporting positions
Preceded by
Renato Travaglia 		European Rally Champion
2003 		Succeeded by

WRC results[]

Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 WDC Points
1989 Bruno Thiry Audi 90 Quattro
13 		- 0
1991 Opel Team Belgium Opel Kadett GSI 16V
Ret
12 		- 0
1992 Opel Team Belgium Opel Calibra 16V
Ret
9 		17th 17
Opel Kadett GSI
2
1993 Opel Team Belgium Opel Astra GSi 16V
8
10
Ret
Ret 		NZL
18
5
7 		17th 16
1994 Ford Motor Co. Ltd. Ford Escort RS Cosworth
6
Ret
6
4
Ret
4
3 		5th 44
1995 R.A.S. Ford Ford Escort RS Cosworth MON
5
6
6
Ret
Ret
6
Ret
5 		6th 34
1996 Ford Motor Co. Ltd. Ford Escort RS Cosworth
6
5
11
6
3
3 		6th 44
1997 Seat Sport Seat Ibiza GTi 16V
Ret 		NZL - 0
Gazprom Rally Team Ford Escort WRC
Ret
1998 Ford Motor Co Ford Escort WRC
6 		SWE
8 		KEN
Ret
5
Ret
Ret 		NZL
Ret
10
6
7 		GBR
3 		9th 8
1999 Subaru World Rally Team Subaru Impreza WRC99
5
10
6
7
Ret 		NZL 14th 6
Subaru Impreza WRC98
Ret
Škoda Motorsport Škoda Octavia WRC
4
2000 Toyota Corolla WRC MON
5 		SWE KEN POR ESP NZL 18th 2
2001 Škoda Motorsport Škoda Octavia WRC Evo2
8
10
Ret
10
Ret
8
10
Ret
18 		NZL
13
Ret
8 		- 0
2002 Peugeot Bastos Racing Peugeot 206 WRC
11
Ret
Ret
Ret 		GRE
12
5
13 		NZL 16th 2

External links[]

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