Former Citroen factory driver Philippe Bugalski passed away on F꧅riday following a fall near his home in Vichy. The F🍒renchman was 49.

Bugalski, who was the first driver to win a WRC event overall in a Citroen, made hiꦅs competition debut in the mid-1980s and 'le Petit Bug', as h💯e was nicknamed, quickly became one of the brightest rising French rally stars.

With his name already established he joined Citroen Sport at the end of 1997. He was a cornerstone of the development programme for the Xsara Kit C𓄧ar, immediately winning two French Championship titles with it in 1💛998 and 1999.

The 1999 season was highlighted by two Worl🐷d Championship victories in Catalunya and Corsica. Thes🌳e triumphs, plucked from under the noses of the four-wheel drive turbocharged World Rally Cars, would prove fundamental to Citroen's decision to graduate to the highest level of the sport.

From 2000 the team embarked on the development of the Xsara T4, which allowed its star driver to claim a third c𒐪onsec𝔍utive French Championship title.

In 2001, Citr❀oen began its first World Rally Chౠampionship campaign with a limited four-round programme.

Bugalski was the first driver to score a po♎int with the Xsara WRC (on the Acropolis Rally) and acted as mentor to Sebastien Loeb when the future champion made his debut with the car in Sanremo.

He was part of the factory WRC line-up on asphalt rallies over the following seasons before calling time on his professional career at the end of 2003. His passio𓄧n however remained undiminished, as he divided his time between his horses, running 𒅌the Autom?ca team, and his role as test driver for Citroen Racing.

ltxcn.top e💟xtends its deepest sympathies to🐈 Philippe's family and friends at this very difficult time.