Jesús Puras


Jesús Puras Vidal de la Peña, also known as 'Chus Puras', is a Spanish rally driver active in the World Rally Championship from 1991 to 2002. Puras was well known for his blistering performances on tarmac rallies.

Career

Puras debuted in rallying in 1982 and captured the Spanish Rally Championship title eight times; in 1990 and 1992 with a Lancia Delta Integrale 16V, in 1995 and 1997 with a Citroën ZX 16S, from 1998 to 2000 with a Citroën Xsara Kit Car and in 2002 with a Citroën Xsara WRC. Driving a Ford Escort RS Cosworth, he also won the 1994 FIA Group N Cup.
Along with teammate Philippe Bugalski, he was chosen by the Citroën Total World Rally Team to be part of their driver line-up for the first bit-part campaign with the Citroën Xsara Kit Car in 1999. He secured his only WRC win at the 2001 Tour de Corse with co-driver Marc Martí with the Citroën Xsara WRC.
However, with performances overshadowed by the upcoming Sébastien Loeb, he retired from the Citroën factory team and the WRC in 2002, ending with a sixth place in his last rally – the 2002 Rallye Sanremo.

WRC victories

WRC results

YearEntrantCar1234567891011121314Pts
1991Mazda Rally Team EuropeMazda 323 GTXMON
Ret		SWEPOR
7		KENFRAGRENZLARGFINAUSITACIV40th4
1991Jesús PurasLancia Delta Integrale 16VESP
Ret		GBR40th4
1992Mauro Rallye TeamLancia Delta HF IntegraleMONSWEPORKENFRAGRENZLARGFINAUSITACIVESP
6		GBR34th6
1994Jesús PurasFord Escort RS CosworthMON
9		POR
8		KENFRA
12		GREARG
Ret		NZL
Ret		FINITA
17		GBR
15		30th5
1995Citroën HispaniaCitroën ZX 16SMONSWEPORFRANZLAUSESP
Ret		GBRNC0
1996Seat SportSeat Ibiza Kit CarSWEKENINAGREARG
Ret		FINAUS
Ret		ITAESP
15		NC0
1997Citroën HispaniaCitroën ZX Kit CarMONSWEKENPORESP
Ret		FRAARGGRENZLFININAITAAUSGBRNC0
1998Automobiles CitroënCitroën Xsara Kit CarMONSWEKENPORESP
Ret		FRAARGGRENZLFINITA
Ret		AUSGBRNC0
1999Automobiles CitroënCitroën Xsara Kit CarMON
Ret		SWEKENPORFRA
2		ARGGRENZL11th6
1999Citroën HispaniaCitroën Xsara Kit CarESP
Ret		11th6
1999Jesús PurasSubaru Impreza WRXFIN
Ret		11th6
1999Jesús PurasToyota Corolla WRCCHN
Ret		GBR
16		11th6
1999Citroën SportCitroën Xsara Kit CarITA
Ret		AUS11th6
2000Jesús PurasMitsubishi Lancer Evo VIMONSWEKENPOR
Ret		FIN
Ret		CYPNC0
2000Citroën SportCitroën Xsara Kit CarESP
Ret		ARGGRENZLNC0
2000Jesús PurasCitroën Saxo Kit CarFRA
28		ITA
35		AUSGBRNC0
2001Jesús PurasCitroën Saxo Kit CarMON
Ret		SWEPOR11th10
2001Automobiles CitroënCitroën Xsara WRCESP
Ret		ARGCYPGREKENFINNZLITA
Ret		FRA
1		AUSGBR11th10
2002BBF Citroën SportCitroën Xsara WRCMONSWEFRAESP
12		CYPARGGREKENFIN19th1
2002Automobiles CitroënCitroën Xsara WRCGER
Ret		19th1
2002Piedrafita SportCitroën Xsara WRCITA
6		NZLAUSGBR19th1