Since the beginning of the Clio Rally5 era in Clio Trophy France, the top Juniors have benefited from an official programme to accelerate their ascent to the highest levels. The first winner in 2020, Anthony Fotia, rose to the next tier with Clio Rally4 in the 2021 French Rally Championship. Romain Di-Fante and Quentin Ribaud received the same opportunity in 2022, as did Tom Pieri and Florian Bouchonneau in 2023.

With the roll-out of Clio Rally3, a new milestone was reached when Benjamin Stirling and Matteo Chatillon got their first taste of four-wheel drive on the national scene last year. Thanks to their impressive results underlining the high level of competitiveness in the Clio Trophy France Asphalte and Clio Trophy France Terre, Alpine Racing has chosen to go even further this year by promoting its hopefuls to the world stage.

Three new rounds in WRC3 for Arthur Pelamourgues

Winner at Le Touquet and Mont-Blanc and on the podium in the Vosges, Arthur Pelamourgues not only won the Clio Trophy France Asphalte but also the Junior category and the Jean Ragnotti Power Stage Trophy while contributing greatly to the Fun Meca Sport team’s title.

Co-driven by Bastien Pouget, the 24-year-old Aveyron native will reunite with Jérémy Brissiaud’s structure as part of a programme of three WRC3 outings with the backing and technical support of Alpine Racing and its partners. After familiarising himself with his new car with three class victories in as many starts, the last of which at the Monte-Carlo Rally with a lead of more than five minutes, he will have the opportunity to continue his development in an environment he knows well.

Currently leading the WRC3, Arthur Pelamourgues and Bastien Pouget will compete in the Rally Islas Canarias (24-27 April). Eager to test themselves at the highest level on gravel, the two rising stars will again be in action at Rally Portugal (15-18 May) and Rally Finland (31 July-3 August), two iconic FIA World Rally Championship rounds.

Arthur Pelamourgues : "We have felt quite excited since winning the Clio Trophy France Asphalte, but everything took on a whole new dimension when this World Rally Championship project began to take shape. It is both impressive and exhilarating. We never imagined we would get this far by entering the trophy. We were able to see what to expect by competing in the Monte-Carlo Rally, and we will continue to approach each special stage with the same rigour, working on every detail, whether technically, physically or mentally. The aim will be to improve at each round, especially on gravel, where we still lack experience, while perfecting the tarmac to reach the level we are aiming for. The biggest challenge will be the performance because the times must determine the outcome of the rally and, potentially, our future. Regardless of the results, we will make the most of this incredible opportunity, give it our all and enjoy ourselves as much as possible because I sincerely believe that this enables us to perform at our best."

A triple dose of action for Tom Pellerey

Like his tarmac counterpart, Tom Pellerey will also enjoy an official Alpine Racing programme with Clio Rally3 after making a strong impression last year in Clio Trophy France Terre. Dominating among the Juniors, the Vaucluse native notably scored two wins and two additional podium results to finish just a hair’s breadth from the overall title.

Winner of the 2021 Rallye Jeunes programme before stepping up a gear in the Clio Rally5 trophies, the 27-year-old driver is now preparing to make his four-wheel drive debut with Clio Rally3. Co-driven by Hervé Faucher, he will get behind the wheel of his new car at the start of the French Gravel Rally Championship at the Rallye Terre des Causses (4-6 April) before joining Arthur Pelamourgues in Portugal and Finland.

Serviced by the Fun Meca Sport organisation, which also claimed the Clio Trophy France Terre teams category, this talented crew is eager to demonstrate the same speed of adaptation that saw them excel in their debut in new rallies for them throughout the 2024 season.

Tom Pellerey : ’It’s a childhood dream to compete in the World Rally Championship with the support of a manufacturer, and I am excited about the programme. It is still hard to believe, but it’s a great surprise rewarding our efforts, sacrifices and the support of our partners. We have stepped up our usual preparation to tackle this campaign in the best possible conditions, with two to three weekly workouts, video sessions and relaxation exercises to optimise our performance in competition. I am also trying to learn as much as I can about Renault Clio Rally3 before I get behind the wheel. My work at Lapland Ice Driving will also be beneficial and complementary. We will have to be smart to manage fatigue and the car on longer rallies and fairly damaged roads, but we will give our all to be competitive and be among the contenders for victory. The aim will be to make the most of our opportunity and enjoy while showing the potential of the Clio Rally3. We know it is a car that can and should win on the world stage, so it’s up to us to prove it. I want to thank everyone working to make these programmes possible and allow us to compete internationally in such conditions. It’s truly wonderful, and I am extremely grateful."

1 + 1 = 3

Meanwhile, Matteo Chatillon will also continue his World Rally Championship campaign. Making full use of the springboard offered last year, the 23-year-old Frenchman entered WRC3 and finished runner-up. He now has official backing for his international programme, underlining Alpine Racing’s ongoing efforts to promote and support the best talents. Caught out by the conditions at the Monte-Carlo Rally, the ARL Sport driver and his co-driver Maxence Cornuau will try to bounce back next week in Sweden (13-16 February). The crew is also scheduled to compete in the Canary Islands, Portugal, Sardinia, Greece, Estonia and Finland.