Clio Trophy Spain Tierra

The Rallye Tierras Altas de Lorca hosted the opening round of the Clio Trophy Spain Tierra. 2023 Trophy runners-up, Aritz Iriondo and Joseba Sánchez proved their progress by taking the lead on the first special stage before winning by 28.8s from Jordi Nualart and Jordi Soldevila. Juniors Salvador España and Pablo Sánchez completed the podium ahead of Ulises Avella and Gabriel Espino and Mexico’s Emiliano Retama, the 2023 FIA NACAM Junior Champion and co-driver Eduard Ferrán. The first leader of the season, Aritz Iriondo will defend his position at the top of the general classification on Rallye Reino de León (17-18 May).

More informations here.

French Rally Cup

The weekend highlight in France was the performance of Matteo Chatillon and Maxence Cornuau, overall winners of the Rallye de la Vienne in a Clio Rally3. With five absolute best times from eight stages on their third start only with the model, the top Juniors in the 2023 Clio Trophy France Terre season scored their maiden victory more than a minute ahead of a trio of Rally2s. In the same event, Clio Rally4 claimed a double podium, while Thomas Foucher and Melvin Fraigne led a sweep of the top seven for Clio Rally5.

Clio Rally3 also won its category on the Rallye de l’Hérault Grand Orb with Gaël Tribouillois and Laëtitia Arnaud, who also finished eighth overall. On the roads of the Hérault region, Clio Rally4 also finished on the podium in its class, and Clio Rally5 locked out the top eight positions led by Serge Soulier and Samuel Ezzedine. Lastly, success was also on the cards in Corsica with an all-Clio Rally5 podium led by Tony Aguzzi and Benjamin Mondière at the Rallye di u Paese Aiaccinu, where the Clio Rally4 of Miguel Casanova and Sébastien Vannucci finished sixth overall.

And elsewhere…

Clio Rally3 savoured the joys of a podium result in Italy, with Gabriele Campagnoli and Nicola Arena taking second place in Rally3 on Rally Città di Foligno (Italy). At the same event, Michael Savio and Livio Mondin beat fellow Clio Rally5 competitors Asia Vidori and Jasmine Manfredi in the first round of the Clio Trophy Italia Terra.

Clio Rally4 excelled in Portugal with fifth place overall for Vasco Silva Jr and Tiago Fernandes, leaders of a two-wheel drive 1-2 result and a 1-2-3 for the model at the Rali Marítimo Município de Machico. José Miguel López Mañas and Miguel Montoya Parra led a one-two finish for Clio Rally4 at the Rally Valle del Almanzora - Sierra de Los Filabres in Spain. José Javier López Ruiz and Ana Eloína Castillo López were also victorious in their Clio Rally5. Also of note was Jakub Vlček’s class podium at the Rentor Rallycup Přerov III (Czech Republic).

Meanwhile, in the German Rally Cup, Michael Sørensen and Line Lykke Jensen led a sweep of the top-five for Clio Rally5 at the ADAC Rally Buten un Binnen, with the Danish driver beating his sons Emil and Oliver and two German crews. Lastly, the model claimed a double-class victory with Fernando Castaedo Conde and Luciano Menéndez González at the Rallysprint de Panes (Spain), a category one-two with Maurizio Ferrarol and Mattea Modenini at the Rally del Bardolino (Italy) and a double podium in 4/12 at the Rallye de Hannut (Belgium).

Coming up

Clio Trophy France Asphalte begins its fifth season with Clio Rally5 this week, with 38 crews competing. Title holder and 2023 Junior title winner Benjamin Stirling will launch his official programme with Clio Rally3. Three other Clio Rally3s, including Thomas Chauffray’s with technical support from Alpine Racing and Michelin Motorsport, will also be in action, along with a Clio Rally4.