Nicolas Vouilloz
Nicolas Vouilloz | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 8, 1976 Nice, France |
| Occupation(s) | Mountain biker, rally driver |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Known for | Ten-time Downhill Mountain Bike World Champion, Intercontinental Rally Challenge champion |
Nicolas Vouilloz (born 8 February 1976) is a French athlete known for his career as a professional mountain biker and his previous involvement as a professional rally driver.
Biography
Vouilloz achieved an exceptional record in the Mountain Bike World Championships for Downhill, securing the world title ten times. His victories began in 1992 as a junior and extended through to 2002, with the exception of an eighth-place finish in 2000. Over his career, he also amassed sixteen wins in World Cup Downhill events and is frequently recognized as the most accomplished male downhill rider in history.
Originating from Nice, France, Vouilloz transitioned to rally driving starting in 2000, initially competing in local events before advancing to national competitions. He made his first appearance in the World Rally Championship during the 2001 Monte Carlo Rally. His top performance in the WRC was a ninth-place finish at the 2004 Wales Rally GB, piloting a Peugeot 206 WRC under the Bozian Racing banner. As a Peugeot-supported driver and development test pilot, he collaborated with Denis Giraudet, an experienced co-driver who won the WRC championship in 1994 alongside Didier Auriol.
Following Peugeot’s exit from the WRC, Vouilloz dedicated himself fully to the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) between 2007 and 2009. In 2007, he finished second overall with three victories. The following year, driving a Peugeot 207 S2000, he clinched the championship title by consistently placing on the podium and outperforming teammate Freddy Loix. In 2009, he ended the season fourth overall, achieving three podiums but no wins.
After several years away from mountain biking, Vouilloz returned to professional competition in 2007 at the World Cup event held in Champery, Switzerland. He currently represents Lapierre Ultimate Cycles and participates in the Enduro World Series.
Complete World Rally Championship results
| Year | Entrant | Car | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | WDC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Nicolas Vouilloz | Renault Clio RS | MON | SWE | POR | ESP | ARG | CYP | GRE | KEN | FIN | NZL | ITA | FRA Ret |
AUS | GBR | NC | 0 | ||
| 2004 | Bozian Racing | Peugeot 206 WRC | MON Ret |
SWE | MEX | NZL | CYP | GRE Ret |
TUR | ARG | FIN | GER 12 |
JPN | GBR 9 |
ITA Ret |
FRA Ret |
ESP 10 |
AUS | NC | 0 |
IRC results
| Year | Team | Vehicle | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Peugeot Sport España | Peugeot 207 S2000 | KEN | TUR 1 |
BEL Ret |
RUS 3 |
POR 9 |
CZE 1 |
ITA 3 |
SWI 1 |
CHI | 2nd | 42 | |||
| 2008 | Peugeot Team Bel-Lux | Peugeot 207 S2000 | TUR 2 |
POR 3 |
BEL 2 |
RUS 5 |
POR 1 |
CZE 2 |
ESP 2 |
ITA 2 |
SWI 2 |
CHI | 1st | 68 | ||
| 2009 | Peugeot Team Bel-Lux | Peugeot 207 S2000 | MON Ret |
BRA 2 |
KEN | POR 3 |
BEL Ret |
RUS | POR 4 |
CZE Ret |
ESP < br /> < small >3 < / small > | ITA < br /> < small >3 < / small > | SCO | 4th | 31 | |
| 2010 | Škoda Motorsport | Škoda Fabia S2000 | MON < br / >< small >3 < / small > | BRA | ARG | CAN | ITA | BEL | AZO | MAD | CZE | ITA | SCO | CYP | 15th | 6 |
| 2011 | Škoda Motorsport | Škoda Fabia S2000 | MON < br / >< small >7 < / small > | CAN | FRA | UKR | BEL | AZO | MAD | CZE | HUN | ITA | SCO | CYP | 14th | 6 |
Achievements
- Winner of the World Cup Downhill title: 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000
- World Champion in Downhill: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002
- Junior World Champion in Downhill: 1992, 1993, 1994