27 août 2024
The home stretch begins in Clio Trophy France Terre
The Clio Trophy France Terre returns at the Rallye Terre de Lozère this week. The penultimate round of the calendar promises to be a particularly open affair, with increasingly ambitious title contenders, juniors determined to win the official programme on offer and outsiders with nothing left to lose. Moreover, the Clio Trophy Spain Tierra will also be present in Mende !
From 30 August to 1st September, the crews will converge on Lozère for a crucial round for many contenders. With the worst result dropped at the end of the season, the fourth rally of the calendar is the last chance for many to break away or make up lost ground before the season finale.
Round 1 winner Tom Pellerey has continued to amass big points with two runner-up finishes. Although he heads to Mende with a 23-point cushion, the overall leader needs another strong result, as the countdown would currently place the CHL Sport Auto driver level on points with Benjamin Boulenc. Second last year in Lozère, Benjamin Boulenc will try to build on the momentum of his first success in Aléria. However, he knows that one of his main rivals this weekend could be one of his Fun Meca Sport by Meccanocar teammates. Castine winner Mika Rasoamaromaka was also on the podium last year at Mende, is eager to return to the sharp end of the order after losing ground just before the break.
The first half of the season was highly competitive, with all three competitors claiming their maiden victory in the first three rounds of the Clio Trophy France Terre. Faniry Rasoamaromaka, keen to get back into the Junior title race, is determined to extend the streak by adding his name to the list. Other hopefuls are still in contention for the official programme at stake for 2025. Reigning champion of the tarmac trophy, Benjamin Stirling will target his first podium on gravel to keep his chances alive. Jean Lavigne, who finished eighth last year in this rally, will also look to close the gap to the front-runners, as will Anthony Rovina, Thomas Eustaquio and Benoit Verlinde, the 2022 Clio Trophy Belgium winner. A newcomer this weekend, Clément Ayrinhac will also be determined to show his potential in this extremely competitive field.
A regular on the Clio Trophy France Terre, Jean Paul Monnin has never missed a round since its inception in 2021 and will look to return to his winning ways after putting a tricky start to the season behind him with a podium finish in Aléria. Meanwhile, Aurélien Devanthéry and Alexandre Gransagne will try to improve upon their top-ten finish on this rally last year, but Ludovic De Luca and Yannick Francisci should provide some good opposition. Christophe Truchet and Gaël Bertrand are also determined to give them a run for their money and confirm their progress with Renault Clio Rally5.
In the Gentlemen category, three competitors have also shared the honours. Returning for the first time since the Causses, where he finished seventh in the trophy, Jean-Michel Da Cunha is the big favourite in a category currently led by Lilian Vialle. However, Vialle is eager to extend his lead following Vincent Favre-Miville’s success at Aléria in a class where Xavier Pruvot, Joan Font and Dimitri Felices are chasing a maiden triumph.
The Clio Trophy Spain Tierra will also be at Terre de Lozère this weekend. Spaniard Aritz Iriondo, unbeaten this season, has his sights set on a third consecutive victory to move closer to the crown. However, he will be up against some serious rivals, including countrymen Jordi Nualart and Ares Lahoz, Mexico’s Emiliano Retama, who won the 2023 FIA NACAM Junior title, and Frenchman Baptiste Panissié, who knows Clio Rally5 and the route inside out. Eight Clio Rally3s, one Clio Rally4 and three other Clio Rally5s are also on the entry list.
Based in Mende, the Rallye Terre de Lozère gets underway on Friday with the shakedown and scrutineering. On a route similar to last year’s, the first leg will consist of two identical loops of three stages before two passes through Allenc and Le Born on Sunday. Each special stage will award up to five ‘Performer Jean Ragnotti’ points to the five fastest drivers, in addition to the points awarded at the finish. The crews will compete over 127.2 kilometres of timed sectors on a total route of 367.25 km.
Entry list
#47 Tom Pellerey – Hervé Faucher (J)
#48 Benjamin Boulenc – Chloé Barozzi-Gauze
#49 Mika Rasoamaromaka – Bastien Pouget (J)
#50 Faniry Rasoamaromaka – François Heer (J)
#51 Benjamin Stirling – Florence Stirling (J)
#52 Jean Paul Monnin – Melvin Fraigne
#53 Jean Lavigne – Arnaud Cubizolles (J)
#54 Ludovic De Luca – José Boyer
#55 Yannick Francisci – Carla Gaffayoli
#56 Alexandre Gransagne – Loïc Maurel
#57 Aurélien Devanthery – Gaël Delasoie
#58 Jean-Michel Da Cunha – Benjamin Gary (G)
#59 Lilian Vialle – Manuel Ghirardello (G)
#60 Anthony Rovina – Manon Perrin (J)
#61 Dimitri Felices – « Clochette » (G)
#62 Vincent Favre-Miville – Maelle Casays (G)
#63 Benoit Verlinde – Anton Dupan (J)
#64 Xavier Pruvot – Nathalie Pruvot (G)
#65 Thomas Eustaquio – Pauline Compozieux (J)
#66 Joan Font – Enrique Velasco (G)
#67 Christophe Truchet – Barbara Truchet
#68 Déborrah Marie – Amandine Houry (F)
#69 Clément Ayrinhac – Romain Beilouny (J)
#70 Gaël Bertrand – Fabien Adenot