FIA ERC

Three Clio Rally4s took part in the Rally di Roma Capitale for the model’s first appearance on the tarmac roads of the European Rally Championship.

Although Ola Jr Nore’s weekend was cut short by a test accident, Clio Rally4 immediately took the lead with Jean-Baptiste Franceschi and Florian Bernardi. The 2019 Clio R3T Trophy France winner retired after minor contact, but Jean-Baptiste Franceschi carried on until the finish.

With an incredible drive in the last special stage, the Frenchman won the FIA ERC3 Junior category by a mere tenth of a second and finished second in the FIA ERC3, 2.7s behind the winner. Thanks to his second success on the European scene, Jean-Baptiste Franceschi is more than ever in the thick of the title fight in both categories.

More information here.

Next round : Barum Czech Rally Zlín (27-29 August)

Clio Trophy by Toksport WRT

The Clio Trophy by Toksport WRT also made its tarmac debut during the Rally di Roma Capitale.

Yigit Timur was the fastest in the first three stages before fending off the return of Paulo Soria and Andrea Mabellini. The three battled hammer and tongs just until the Turkish driver made a mistake on SS9. Meanwhile, Andrea Mabellini gained a position over Paulo Soria and went on to win the rally on home soil with a 19.7-second margin of victory over the Argentinean. Ghjuvanni Rossi completed the podium ahead of Bastien Bergounhe.

With this second consecutive win, the Italian Andrea Mabellini is now nine points clear of Paulo Soria and 14 ahead of Ghjuvanni Rossi. Bastien Bergounhe is still in contention at 25 points to the leader while Yigit Timur rounds up the top five.

More information here.

Next round : Barum Czech Rally Zlín (27-29 August)

Clio Cup Europe

Après le huitième rendez-vous de la saison disputé sur l’Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari d’Imola, une lutte à trois pour le titre se dessine en Clio Cup Europe entre Nicolas Milan et les deux vainqueurs du week-end, Marc Guillot et David Pouget. Les trois hommes se tiennent désormais en moins de cent points, soit l’équivalent de deux victoires. En parallèle, Alexandre Albouy et Alessandro Sebasti Scalera ont dominé les débats en Challengers Cup et Gentlemen Drivers Cup.

After the eighth meeting of the season at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, a three-way battle for the Clio Cup Europe title is taking shape between Nicolas Milan and this weekend’s winners, Marc Guillot and David Pouget. Less than 100 points or the equivalent of two race wins now separate the three Frenchmen. Alexandre Albouy and Alessandro Sebasti Scalera dominated the Challengers Cup and Gentlemen Drivers Cup categories.

More information here.

Next round : Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps (29-31 July)

Clio Trophy France Terre

The battle lived up to all its promise in the Clio Trophy France Terre. Leader from the first special stage of Rallye Langres Haute-Marne, Quentin Ribaud saw Jean-Paul Monnin wrest away command of the category two timed-sectors from the finish. Using his experience to manage his lead, Jean-Paul Monnin went on to take the win ahead of John Laroche and Marcel Abad following the penalty to his young rival after the event.

More information here.

Next round : Rallye Terre de Lozère – Sud de France (27-29 August)

FFSA French Junior Rallycross Championship

The Clio RXs of the FFSA French Junior Rallycross Championship ventured to Kerlabo for round four of the season.

Arthur Le Boudouil combined speed and consistency to score his maiden win in rallycross ahead of Dylan Dufas and Edgar Maloigne. Baptiste Menez and Florian Meureau completed the top five of a final marked by the puncture of Tom Le Jossec, the leader of the intermediate classification following the disqualification of Dorian Deslandes.

With the victory, Arthur Le Boudouil is now equal on points at the top of the championship with David Bouet, who had a weekend to forget. They have a 21-point lead over Tom Le Jossec heading to the summer break.

More information here.

Next round : Essay-les-Ducs (20-22 August)

And elsewhere...

Clio Rally4 made a promising debut in the Coupe de France des Rallyes in the hands of Guillaume Lafitte, who finished runner-up in his category on Rallye du Val d’Agout. At the same event, Marc D’Acunto drove his Clio Rally5 to victory over Dominique Chibaudel in RC5.

Currently second in the Clio Trophy Spain, Jorge Cagiao placed Clio Rally5 in the overall top ten on Rally Recalvi Rías Baixas, a round of the Spanish Tarmac Rally Cup. He won his category by more than ten minutes. Still in Spain, Clio Rally5 scored a one-two finish on Rally Comarca Norte de Gran Canaria with Marcos Martín and Manuel Hernandez. Sergio Fuentes finished runner-up in his category in his first outing behind the wheel of the Clio Rally4.

In Italy, Marco Luchi won by 12.8 seconds over Luciano Calini in their Clio Rally5 duel for the R1 win on Rally 2 Laghi - Rally dell’Ossola. And lastly, Slovenia’s Matjaž Mihevc scored his second category win with Clio Rally5 on Rally Železniki, which count both in the Slovenian and Croatian championships.

On the other side of the Atlantic, Clio Rally5 dominated the two-wheel-drive category in the opening round of the Ecuadorian Rally Championship, Rally Ciudad Azul Pelileo. Diego Serrano finished third overall on home soil. He was followed by fellow Clio Rally5 competitor Erick Coello.

Coming up

Clio Cup Europe heads to Spa-Francorchamps for meeting nine of the season. Twenty-four Clio Cups are expected in Belgium to battle on the same bill as the renowned 24 Hours of Spa this week.

Photo 1 : FIA ERC
Photo 2 : Flat-Out Media Agency / Sven Kollus

Photo 3 : DPPI / Alpine Racing
Photo 4 : MAP / Pierre Simenel