Clio Trophy France Terre : season 2, episode 1

Two weeks after the debut of a promising new campaign in the Clio Trophy France Asphalte, the Clio Trophy France Terre promises to be just as exciting with a field that has more than doubled in size.

After Quentin Ribaud's victory in 2021, the battle promises to be fierce with the return of some competitors mixed with the arrival of new contenders determined to shake up the hierarchy, all on an event that will make its debut on the calendar: the Rallye Terre des Causses!

Jean-Paul Monnin and John Laroche, who were in contention for the crown right up to the final round last year, should once again be at the sharp end of the order. The two men will have their sights sets on victory from the outset on a rally that the former knows well, unlike his team-mate, who has already shown his impressive ability to adapt though. Simon Heinemann and Sébastien Studer, who finished fourth and fifth overall last year, will also be back to show the extent of their progress on stages that will also be new to them.

At the same time, Florian Condamines will try to use his experience of the Occitan roads to impress on his debut, as will Emmanuel Gunchard, Benjamin Boulenc, Vincent Favre-Miville, Maxime Salin and Loïc Mattei, moving from the Clio Trophy France Asphalte, just like François Fraymouth. Others like Pierre-Yves Esparcieux and Gaël Alquier will hope to spring a surprise on a surface they will have to prove themselves.

The succession of Quentin Ribaud looks wide open in the Junior category. There will be competitors familiar with Clio Rally5, including Thomas Mouysset and Julien Pontal, but also with Clio RX, such as Baptiste Panissié, sixth in the French Junior Rallycross Championship last year. Clio Trophy France Asphalte and Clio Ice Trophy title-holder Romain Di-Fante will also return to gravel for the first time since 2017!

Bastien Bergounhe will also be one of the big favorites. Fourth in the Clio Trophy by Toksport WRT, the Frenchman defeated the mainstays in the trophy on his debut at Cardabelles last year. With his 2021 apprenticeship under his belt, Spain's Marcel Abad should also be able to join the frontrunners, while Sam Taveneau, Jean Lavigne and Madagascar's Faniry and Mika Rasoamaromaka will use their knowledge to go for the win. Florian Bouchonneau and Mattéo Chatillon, who finished second and sixth in last year's French Junior Rally Championship, will also be in contention, as will Maxime Lafon and Inès Tamisier.

Newly introduced, the Gentlemen category is also ready for some fiercely contested battles with some experienced competitors, including 2011 Swiss Rally Champion Laurent Reuche and Belgium’s Claudie Tanghe. An old hand on the gravel, Christophe Rocard, could also create a surprise, as could Lilian Vialle and Eric Royère, who won in this category a fortnight ago in Le Touquet’s tarmac. Also seen several times in the tarmac trophy, Frédéric Perrard will complete the field of this first round of the calendar.

Like its asphalt counterpart, the Clio Trophy France Terre has already established itself as an ideal springboard for young hopefuls as the Rallye Terre des Causses will be the scene of Quentin Ribaud's official Clio Rally4 programme debut. The national two-wheel-drive title-holder will aim for the double with his co-driver Melissa Declerck and the Fun Meca Sport structure, which won the team title last year. The duo formed by Julien France and Marc Haddad will also take part in the event with Clio Rally4.

The 25th Rallye Terre des Causses will start at midday on Saturday with a loop of three stages, ending with the longest timed sector of the route, repeated in the afternoon. On Sunday, the competitors will take on two more stages, run twice, starting with the Power Stage - now also present in Clio Trophy France Terre to offer bonus points to the fastest crews. The ten stages will total 162.70 kilometres of action.

Entry List

#35 Jean Paul Monnin – Franck Gilliot
#36 John Laroche – Pierrick Dupas
#37 Romain Di-Fante – Patrick Chiappe (J)
#38 Simon Heinemann – Yves Heinemann
#39 Bastien Bergounhe – Mathieu Descharne (J)
#40 Laurent Reuche – Jean Dériaz (G)
#41 Florian Condamines – Damien Jole
#42 Sébastien Studer – Amanda Rossetti
#43 Sam Taveneau – Pauline Boyer (J)
#44 Marcel Abad – Pere Requena (J)
#45 Éric Royère – Gilbert Dini (G)
#46 Loïc Mattei – Dominique Corvi
#47 Julien Pontal – Loan Biagetti (J)
#48 Mika Rasoamaromaka – Bastien Pouget (J)
#49 Faniry Rasoamaromaka – Judi Rakatomalala (J)
#50 Florian Bouchonneau – Jeanne Rey (J)
#51 Emmanuel Guinchard – Kilian Guinchard
#52 Claudie Tanghe – Jean-Christian d’Ennetières (G)
#53 Benjamin Boulenc – Chloé Barozzi-Gauze
#54 Baptiste Panissié – Gaël Lavernhe (J)
#55 François Fraymouth – Romain Felicelli
#56 Pierre-Yves Esparcieux – Kévin Duc
#57 Lilian Vialle – Manuel Ghirardello (G)
#58 Mattéo Chatillon – Cédric Santini (J)
#59 Jean Lavigne – Arnaud Cubizolles (J)
#60 Gaël Alquier – Marion Alquier-Ceres
#61 Maxime Lafon – Thomas Delmas (J)
#62 Frédéric Perrard – Francis Leclercq (G)
#63 Thomas Mouysset – Lucas Gineste (J)
#64 Vincent Favre-Miville – Cédric Causse
#65 Maxime Salin – David Salin
#66 Ines Tamisier – Laurent Tamisier (J, F)
#67 Chirstophe Rocard – Manon Deliot (G)