Video: Pagenaud Wins Rallye National de la Vienne

Schmidt Peterson Motorsports driver Simon Pagenaud won the Rallye National de la Vienne on March 7-8 to claim his first victory in rally racing.

Pagenaud and co-driver Manu Dechatre wheeled a Team FJ-prepared Peugeot S2000 car through Pagenaud's native La Vienne region of France against several French Championship regular competitors to claim the win.

"What a weekend!" Pagenaud said. "I'm obviously delighted to have won my first rally in my home part of France and with the backing of the local regional authorities. It didn't take me long to feel comfortable enough in the Peugeot to start pushing hard. The conditions changed drastically throughout the race, but we managed to adapt, and our pace notes were perfect."

Pagenaud, 29, frequently moonlights in the sports car paddock when on break from his full-time IndyCar Series ride with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, but rallying is a discipline he competes in less frequently.

"The support of all my partners enabled me to indulge my passion for rallying once again behind the wheel of what was, frankly, an incredible car," Pagenaud said. "The only frustrating thing was that it was over so quickly, and I had to hand back the keys of the car!"