Clio Trophy Spain Tierra

The Clio Trophy Spain Tierra, the latest addition to the customer racing programmes in Spain, kicked off at the Rally da Auga. Ten crews were entered with Clio Rally5 in one of the Spanish Gravel Rally Cup’s most demanding rounds between La Coruña and Santiago de Compostela.

Clio Trophy Spain Asfalto title holders Miguel García and Osel Román set the pace in the wet and muddy conditions, but Ramón Cornet and Daniel Noguer progressively found their speed to claim the lead on SS4. The Catalans from Brunet Competition scored five fastest times in seven stages to open the Clio Trophy Spain Tierra history. Canarians Benjamín Avella and Agustín Aleman completed the podium ahead of Salvador España and Miriam Antelo, who took top honours in the Junior category. Alberto Bueno and Daniel Rivera finished fifth ahead of Clio Rally5 newcomers Xesús Alfonsín - Daniel Sosa, Turkey’s Kerem Kazaz - Ali Emre Yilmaz and Spanish Autocross Champion Ares Lahoz and her co-driver Julia Vicente.

First leader in the history of the Clio Trophy Spain Tierra, Ramón Cornet will defend his position at the next round, the Rally Ciudad de Pozoblanco (19-20 May).

More information here.

French Rally Cup

Clio Rally4 and Clio Rally5 won their respective categories on the Rallye des Vignes de Régnié, with Anthony Diel - Stessie Muzel and Maxence Passaquet - Manon Perrin, as well as the Rallye Val de Boutonne with Pascal Phelippeau - Mathieu Phelippeau and David Defaux - Aurélien Baron. At the same time, Baptiste Panissié and Gaël Lavernhe completed the final preparations for their Clio Trophy France Terre campaign with the win on the Rallye du Vallon de Marcillac ahead of Pierre Simenel - Solenn Chirot and Benoît Albouy - Jody Alméras. Further south, Sylvain Rouquette and Marjorie Mercier were also victorious, leading a Clio Rally5 sweep of the top four on the Rallye des Vins du Gard.

Elsewhere...

Clio Rally4 excelled on German tarmac, with the Dutch duo of Ceriel Klein Kromhof and Marcel Hanstede finishing seventh overall on the ADAC Rallye Buten un Binnen, where Danish drivers Emil Sørensen and Adam Hørlykke Christensen also won in a Clio Rally5 in RC5.

In Italy, Giuseppe Dipalma and "Cobra" dominated the proceedings on the asphalt roads of the Camunia Rally to lead a Clio Rally5 lockout of the top six. Riccardo Gandolfi and Serena Vacchieri did the same, being victorious on Rally Team 971 and finished 14th overall as well as third in the two-wheel drive category.

Lastly, Clio Rally5 caused another sensation in Peru. Javier Arce and Mario Acosta easily won their class and finished second overall on the Rally Apertura San Jeronimo on the gravel stages around Cuzco. The Peruvian took advantage of the event to confirm his intention to debut in the World Rally Championship with the model on Rally Chile Bio Bío (28 September - 1 October).

Coming up

This week, the Clio Trophy France Terre will launch season three with 39 entries for the Rallye Terre des Causses (31 March - 1 April). In addition to this record field, title holder Florian Bouchonneau will begin his official programme with Clio Rally4, whilst Clio Rally3 will make its first public appearance in France in the hands of Quentin Ribaud. Meanwhile, season three of Clio Trophy Belgium and the race to succeed Benoit Verlinde will begin at the Rallye des Ardennes in Dinant (31 March - 1 April).