First of all, congratulations to everyone. How do you rate your season with Clio Rally3 ?

Benjamin Stirling : It was a fantastic year, with a wealth of learning and discoveries. We’d gladly return for more !

Matteo Chatillon : It was a magical season, and I was lucky enough to do my programme in the French Rally Championship and WRC3 on rounds that I’ve always dreamt of. I am fortunate to have experienced these special moments, and I thank Alpine Racing for supporting me in my first campaign as an official driver.

Lander Depotter : We really enjoyed our rallies with Clio Rally3. With two events, we needed to make the most of this opportunity, and it was a brilliant chance to show our speed. It was also a great introduction to a four-wheel-drive car, a dream to drive in Castrol’s official colours.

Apart the obvious, what were the main differences between Clio Rally5 and Clio Rally3 ?

MC : What struck me was how easy Clio Rally3 is to drive. You feel comfortable straight away. Everything flows more smoothly. I was also impressed by the engine, chassis and brakes, but what I like the most is its aggressive noise you can hear from a distance !

BS : The engine power, the wide range of damper settings, braking power, and impressive handling thanks to the four-wheel drive.

LD : The biggest difference for me was how much the car setup matters. It’s quite simple with Clio Rally5, but you can really work on the details together and learn how to set up a car with Clio Rally3. And, of course, the amount traction is incredible when you come from Rally5 !

What was your highlight with Clio Rally3 in 2024 ?

MC : Unquestionably, our maiden victory in WRC3 ! After a few setbacks, the team didn’t give up and neither did we. That made it a special moment. This rally showed what we can do, and the upgrades have improved comfort and performance. I’ll remember it for a long time.

LD : Seventh place overall at the Omloop van Vlaanderen. We won the Rally3 class by seven minutes while finishing just behind the best Rally2 drivers battling for the national title in Belgium.

BS : The season overall ! More seriously, I’m torn between the Vosges and the Cévennes, where we were in the top ten. The Mont-Blanc was also exciting, with a diabolical car and setup, although it was challenging to do better than 28th overall given the impressive Rally2, GT+ and R-GT entry list.

What was your biggest challenge ?

LD : Finding the best settings ! There are so many adjustments and details we can work on... But it all worked out smoothly with the help of our engineer Tom and the Pieter Tsjoen Racing team.

MC : Our biggest challenge was learning on the international scene with a car and tyres that we didn’t know. This year was full of discoveries, but we approached it humbly and worked in the right direction to make everything easier.

Would you say Clio Rally5 provided you with the best training ?

MC : Clio Rally5 is one of my favourites. It’s a lively, affordable car that delivers excellent performance. It has helped me progress enormously and provided a lot of pleasure. Competing with the furious Clio Trophy drivers was incredible, and those battles have prepared me for the next level.

LD : Clio Rally5 teaches you the basics. With less power, maintaining speed and taking the ideal lines is essential. If you take that into Clio Rally3, you’ll definitely be fast.

BS : It helps that Clio Rally3 is similar to work on and certain characteristics, but only much better ! Clio Rally5 provides some excellent sensations, but the Rally3 is just breathtaking !

Where have you made the most progress this year ?

BS : With all the damper options available on Clio Rally3, we’ve made real headway with the setup. We’ve also learnt how to drive and make the most of a four-wheel drive car.

LD : I think I’ve grown a lot overall. Not just in pure speed but also mentally, with the setup and getting the most from the car and its setup.

MC : It was more a question of race management. After the Monte Carlo, I was exhausted mentally and physically, but at the end of the Central European Rally, all I wanted to do was start the rally again !

Any advice for your successors ?

BS : To Arthur Pelamourgues and Bastien Pouget, make the most of every moment ! The season goes by so quickly. And have a lot of fun behind the wheel because this car has enormous potential.

MC : If I had to give Tom Pellerey one piece of advice, it would also be to make the most of every moment and believe in yourself. These are once-in-a-lifetime moments, and you have to enjoy them. I wish them all the best !

LD : Leny Cols will receive a slightly different reward as he will enter the Monte Carlo. I’d advise him to make the most of it, especially on such an iconic rally with such a fun car.

What can we wish you for the future ?

LD : I hope we can build on these results to pursue our adventure in four-wheel drive. We did our best to maximise everything, and then I did a round with a Rally2. That convinced me that Rally3 is an excellent intermediate phase !

BS : In the short term, I want to continue to battle and enjoy myself in the French Rally Championship. However, I also want to fulfil a childhood dream of participating in a World Rally Championship round.

MC : I hope to be able to stay atop the Clio Rally3 entries. In any case, I’m very proud to see several French crews trying their luck on the international scene. It proves the car’s performance and the Clio Trophy’s ability to develop young talent !