With two wins and two more podium finishes from four rallies, Benjamin Stirling is already mathematically assured of the title and only needs to start the first special stage on Saturday morning to officially succeed Anthony Fotia, Romain Di-Fante and Thomas Chauffray in the trophy. While some might have expected the eventual winner to celebrate his triumph in cruise control mode, this will certainly not be the case for the Alsace native, who has also propelled Groupe Bertrand to the top of the Renault Network Challenge.

Benjamin Stirling, who is also the top junior, will do his utmost to contribute to a fourth title this season by leading Sébastien Loeb Racing to glory among the teams. What’s at stake ? Servicing his car in his official programme in 2024 !

Heading to Vendôme, Sébastien Loeb Racing has a 68-point lead over Fun Meca Sport, with 102 points to play for. In addition to their leader, the team owned by the nine-time world rally champion can rely on Yoan Corberand and Nicolas Hebrard, second and seventh in the trophy, both determined to finish their campaign on a high. Opposite them, Fun Meca Sport’s hopes will rest on Arthur Pelamourgues, the current leader of the Jean Ragnotti Power Stage classification and in search of his first success, but also Tom Pellerey and Romain Fostier, who finished on the podium in Morzine.

Alongside this duel, the battle for the top places will be fierce, with anything still possible as only the four best results will count towards the final classification. Antibes’ winner Benjamin Barnouin could still become Benjamin Stirling’s runner-up, as could Tom Vauclare, Matteo Chatillon, Arthur Roché and Enzo Beschet but their destinies are no longer entirely in their own hands. Meanwhile, Jordan D’Agostino is eager to wrap up his maiden season in the trophy in style, while Amaury Facchinetti aims to build on his promising start in Mont-Blanc while Christophe Gouville, Ugo Girardeau, Calvin Lucas and Romuald Lézeau have nothing to lose and will look to put their experience to good use.

A double winner this year in the Gentleman category, Mike Souvigné could seal the honorary title in this class. With his retirement in Antibes, the driver from Luxembourg knows for sure that he will score points if he reaches the finish. His rivals in Vendôme - Pascal Donnadieu, José Da Cunha, Willy Mathey, Philippe Janvier and Jean-Pierre Lejeune must do something special to steal the top spot from him. The only representative in her class, Margot Dupuy also has the opportunity to claim the equally symbolic crown in the Women’s category at the expense of Charlotte Olea, the current leader sitting out the season-finale.

Martin Massé, who finished 12th in Le Touquet in the season’s opening round, returns to the service park. After some fine performances in the French Rally Cup, Antoine Bordagaray, Valentin Marechal and Bastien Gouret will make their Clio Trophy France Asphalte debuts, as will Marius Bureau, third in Rally5 at Vendôme last year, and Quentin Mathey, son of Willy Mathey. These newcomers will not, however, be eligible for points in the final Trophy classification.

The Rallye Cœur de France will be contested over 13 special stages totalling 192.67 timed kilometres on a total route of 507.08 km. On Saturday, two identical loops of four tests await the competitors before a super-special in the heart of Vendôme. On Sunday, the season concludes with two passes through Sargé-sur-Braye and Savigny-sur-Braye, which will host the Jean Ragnotti Power Stage with bonus points at stake on SS11. Two Clio Rally3s and five Clio Rally4s will also be in action, in the most capable hands of Thomas Chauffray, Styve Juif, Julien Bregeon and Mathieu Walter, who have all came through the ranks of the Renault Clio rally trophies.

Entry list
#34 Benjamin Stirling – Florence Stirling (J)
#35 Yoan Corberand – Jessika Leprêtre
#36 Arthur Pelamourgues – Bastien Dumas (J)
#37 Benjamin Barnouin – Romain Garel (J)
#38 Romain Fostier – Ophélie Abchiche
#39 Tom Vauclare – Frédéric Vauclare (J)
#40 Nicolas Hebrard – Amandine Houry
#41 Matteo Chatillon – Maxence Cornuau (J)
#42 Julien Deslauriers – Amandine Brunel
#43 Arthur Roché – Alizée Pottier (J)
#44 Enzo Beschet – Romain Gandre (J)
#45 Jordan D’Agostino – Manon Deliot (J)
#46 Tom Pellerey – Hervé Faucher (J)
#47 Amaury Facchinetti – Léo Lhomme (J)
#48 Mike Souvigné – Brice Ricou (G)
#49 Martin Massé – Melvine Pitois (J)
#50 Antoine Bordagaray – Brice Ricou (J)
#51 Marius Bureau – Romain Depeux (J)
#52 Pascal Donnadieu – Laurent Delmas (G)
#53 Christophe Gouville – François Heer
#54 Ugo Girardeau – Julien Bichon
#55 José Da Cunha – Tiphaine Mauduit (G)
#56 Bastien Gouret – Allison Guillon (J)
#57 Willy Mathey – Maelle Casays (G)
#58 Quentin Mathey – Matthieu Chartier (J)
#59 Philippe Janvier – Benjamin Mondiere (G)
#60 Romuald Lézeau – Clément Cretin
#61 Margot Dupuy – « Clochette » (F)
#62 Calvin Lucas – Manon Perrin (J)
#63 Valentin Marechal – Kevin Poisson (J)
#64 Jean-Pierre Lejeune – Geneviève Arnavielhe (G)