Nicolas Fuchs

Nicolas Fuchs is the best rally driver from Peru who captured the national rally title five times in a row between 2007 and 2011, NACAM (North America Central America) championship once (in 2010) and Production WRC title once (in 2013). Most recently, he's a regular competitor at Rally Dakar.

Nicolas Fuchs

Five national championship titles in a row

Born in August 1982 in Lima, Nicolas Fuchs made a debut in national rally competition in 2005. His first event was the Rally Premio Presidente de la Republica. Two years later, he captured the first victory in that event but also won his first national rally title, at the wheel of Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX.

In the next four seasons, Fuchs was a dominant driver in the Peruvian rally championship, capturing four more titles from 2008 to 2011. He did that in Group N vehicles Subaru Impreza STi or Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX or Evo X.

WRC debut at 2009 Rally Argentina

Outside Peru, Fuchs expanded his rally programme to CODASUR South America Rally Championship in 2008, finishing second in the points behind Victor Galeano.

In 2009, he raced again in CODASUR and made WRC debut at Rally Argentina in April. He was driving Subaru Impreza STi in his WRC debut, finishing 11th overall and 4th in N4 class.

NACAM rally champion in 2010

In 2010, Fuchs made one WRC start at Rally Mexico in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX, finishing 12th overall and 5th in N4 class.

He spent the rest of the season in the Peruvian championship and NACAM championship, winning both championship titles. He won four NACAM rallies in a Lancer Evo IX, sharing a car with navigator Juan Pedro Cilloniz.

Nicolas Fuchs in a Subaru Impreza at 2012 Rally Italia Sardegna

First PWRC season in 2011, maiden victory in 2012

In 2011, Fuchs captured his fifth and championship title in Peru and spent his first full season in the Production WRC competition. At the wheel of Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X, he participated in six WRC events, scoring third-place PWRC finishes at Rally Sweden and Wales Rally.

In 2012, Fuchs continued to compete in the PWRC, combining Mitsubishi Lancer and Subaru Impreza. After two podiums in Mexico and Argentina in a Mitsubishi, he scored his maiden PWRC victory at Rally Italia Sardegna in a Subaru Impreza STi. He finished the season sixth in the points.

Nicolas Fuchs at 2013 Rally Sweden

Production Car world rally champion in 2013

In 2013, the WRC2 championship has been established with Production Class as a subcategory. Fuchs participated in seven WRC events in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X or Evo IX, scoring two WRC2 podiums. At the end of the season, he was fourth in WRC2 classification and champion in Production class.

In the same season, Fuchs raced in a Baratec MR (Mitsubishi) in the Argentine Rally Championship, scoring one victory to finish seventh in the final classification. In 2014, he moved to Ford Fiesta MR in the Argentine championship, scoring two wins and finishing third in the points.

Nicolas Fuchs in 2015

Two seasons in a Ford Fiesta R5

Fuchs also switched to Ford Fiesta in the 2014 World Rally Championship, driving RRC-spec or R5-spec cars in the WRC2 championship. He was on a podium only once, finishing second at Rally Argentina and ninth in the WRC2 classification at the end of the season.

Fuchs stayed in a Ford Fiesta R5 in 2015 WRC2 season, finishing best in the second place at Rally Mexico and 12th in the final standings.

Nicolas Fuchs (right) and Fernando Mussano next to their #42 Škoda Fabia R5

Maiden WRC2 victory at 2016 Rally Argentina

For the 2016 WRC2 season, Fuchs switched to Škoda Fabia R5, continuing to share a car with his old navigator Fernando Mussano. They scored a maiden WRC2 victory at Rally Argentina. Later in the season, Fuchs was on a podium twice, finishing second at Rally Portugal and Rally Australia. At the end of the season, he was sixth in WRC2 points.

It was his last full season in rallying so far because he moved a focus to cross-country rallying and making a debut at Rally Dakar in 2017.

Nicolas Fuchs debuted at Dakar Rally in 2017

Twelfth place in Dakar Rally debut in 2017

In January 2017, Fuchs made a debut at the famous Dakar Rally which took place in South America, driving the #323 HRX prepared by Wevers Sport. His best position was eighth after Stage 10. In the end, he was twelfth, what was the best ever result for some Peruvian driver at Dakar Rally. His navigator was Fernando Mussano.

Fuchs returned to Dakar Rally in January 2018. This time, the event started in the Peruvian capital Lima. He was third after Stage 1 in a Borgward BX7, prepared by Wevers Sport, but didn't reach the finish two weeks later in Cordoba, Argentina. The 2019 Dakar Rally took place on the Peruvian soil only and Nicolas Fuchs finished 16th in the #313 Borgward BX7.

Victory at Peru 6 Hours in 2016

Outside rallying, Nicolas Fuchs participated several times at Peru 6 Hours (6 Horas Peruanas), the main Peruvian circuit racing event. In 2016, he won a race in an Audi R8 LMS, sharing a car with Ricardo Dasso and Enrique Arriola. Next year, in the same car, Fuchs finished third in class.

Nicolas Fuchs