Clio Cup Series

For its long-awaited return to the Nürburgring, the Clio Cup Series offered two spectacular confrontations before the summer break. On Saturday, Alexandre Finkelstein made the most of his opportunity to steal victory from David Pouget and Gabriele Torelli and claim his first career victory before his two rivals clashed again on Sunday. The victorious Gabriele Torelli consolidated his lead in Clio Cup Europe and Clio Cup Mid-Europe, while his rival did the same in Clio Cup Series and Clio Cup France. The various title races will resume at the Red Bull Ring, where Clio Cup Europe, Clio Cup Italia and Clio Cup Mid-Europe will meet from 8 to 10 September.

More information here.

French Junior Rallycross Championship

The battle for the French Junior FFSA Rallycross Championship title intensified once again at round five of the season in Kerlabo. After dominating the qualifying heats and his semi-final, Marceau Launay lost out to Andréa Benezet, who put in an impressive final. Kelig Gouesbet scored his first podium finish ahead of Alizée Pottier and Gautier Sarhy, while Valentin Lumet had to settle for seventh place. In the general classification, Marceau Launay now has a seven-point lead over Andréa Benezet and a 12-point advantage over Valentin Lumet ahead of the next event for the Clio RXs at Lohéac (1-3 September).

More information here.

Clio Trophy Italia

Contested over the first seven stages of the Rallye di Roma Capitale, Edoardo De Antoni and Carlotta Romano won the first meeting of the 2023 Clio Trophy Italia season. Leading from the outset, the duo regained the upper hand on SS3 to build a 1:34.5s margin of victory over Andrea Gonella and Erika Badinelli. Michele Campagne and Fabrizio Mallozzi completed the podium. RC5 class leader Edoardo De Antoni also takes command of the general classification before the next event on Rally 1000 Miglia (8-9 September).

Italian Junior Rally Championship

Round three of the Campionato Italiano Assoluto Rally Junior and its field made up entirely of Clio Rally5s serviced by Motorsport Italia for the ACI Team Italia hopefuls turned in favour of Riccardo Pederzani and Edoardo Brovelli. On the special stages of Rally di Roma Capitale, Riccardo Pederzani gradually upped the pace to take the lead on SS8, ahead of Salvatore Pio Scannella - Francesco Galipò and Francesco Dei Ceci - Nicolò Lazzarini. Winner of the first two rounds of the calendar, Davide Pesavento had to settle for sixth place after a puncture on SS12. The Italian thus sees Riccardo Pederzani close in on him at the top of the general classification ahead of the Rally 1000 Miglia (8-9 September).

More information here.

FIA European Rally Championship

Still at the Rally di Roma Capitale, Clio Rally3 claimed its first podium on the European scene with second place for Paolo Andreucci and Rudy Briani in ERC3. Meanwhile, Ola Nore and his Clio Rally4 retained the lead in Junior ERC. With co-driver June Eilertsen by his side, the Norwegian put in a solid and determined display, combining speed and intelligence to finish fourth and leave Rome with a seven-point lead at the top of the Junior ERC. The duo also remains in the thick of the ERC4 title race, where it is second, 15 points behind the leader. The next round will be on the tarmac of the Barum Czech Rally Zlin (19-20 August).

More information here.

French Rally Cup

Clio continued its fine run with a hat-trick of wins on Rallye du Thouaret : Clio Rally3 with Patrice Laroche - Jérémy Brissiaud, Clio Rally4 with Thierry Landais - Théo Mallet and Clio Rally5 with a podium lockout led by Antoine Bordagaray - Alan Autegarden. The three models also impressed at the Rallye du Gap Racing with victory for the Clio Rally3 of Bernard Taffin and Christopher Fortunato, a double podium for Clio Rally4 with Lionel Gros - Kévin Marchetti and Claude Benedetto - Patricia Benedetto and a sweep of the top three for Clio Rally5 headed by Marion Renchet and Marine Delon. Clio Rally5 scored two additional one-two-three finishes, led by Killian Marry and Clément Lionneton on Rallye du Trièves and Jérôme Janny and Aurélien Beaudouin on the Rallye de la Plaine des Vosges, as well as two one-twos led by Manon Dauphin and Julien Deslauriers on the Rallye de la Fourme d’Ambert and Samuel and Nicolas Hoarau on the Rallye de la Réunion.

And elsewhere

Another superb performance this past weekend was put in by Luis Eduardo Stedile and Carlos Enrique Morales, who finished second overall in their Clio Rally5 on Rally Araucária in round four of the Brazilian Rally Championship. The crew also monopolised the fastest times in the Rally4 and RC4 categories to win by more than two and a half minutes and distance themselves from their rivals for the national title.

In Italy, Clio Rally5 took the top seven places in its class on Rally di Salsomaggiore Terme, led by Francesco Ceroni and Giulia Muffatti. Elsewhere in Europe, Tomáš and Michal Večerka took their Clio Rally5 to the second step of the S2 podium against models from higher categories on the Rallye Železné hory (Czech Republic).

Coming up

Clio Rally3 will debut in the FIA World Rally Championship this weekend on Secto Rally Finland (3-6 August). A week after opening the HYAcenter Ralli, Markus Manninen and Teemu Sillanpää will make their first competitive appearance on the roads of their home country. Four Clio Rally4s will also take part in the event.