Clio Trophy France Asphalte and Terre filling up

Since the launch of Clio Rally5 in 2020, its dedicated trophies have consolidated their position as the ideal springboard for young hopefuls and drivers looking for thrills on the most exciting French special stages. After an exceptional season in the Clio Trophy France Asphalte and the promising start of the Clio Trophy France Terre, the 2022 season promises to be even more attractive with ever-expanding service parks.

Quantity and quality on tarmac

With two weeks to go before the start of the season in Le Touquet, more than forty crews have already committed to the Clio Trophy France Asphalte to try to succeed Anthony Fotia and Romain Di-Fante.

2021 runner-up Styve Juif, Thomas Chauffray, Romain Fostier and Benjamin Stirling have to be considered pre-season favourites as they all finished in the top five of the season-ending classification last year. Despite their status as, they will have to keep a close eye on promising hopefuls Tom Pieri, winner of the Rallye Jeunes operation in 2019, Pierre Paul Baltolu, a revelation in the Clio Ice Trophy, and Lander Dhaene, fifth in the Belgian Junior Rally Championship in 2021.  

Louis Myr, who competed in the French Junior Rally Championship, and Yann Clairay, who competed in Formula Renault before excelling in GT and winning the Twingo R2 Trophy in 2013, will be two other drivers to watch. Jérôme Janny will also make his return to the Renault service parks with increased expectations, as will Julien Anthérieu, François Fraymouth, Sébastien Rambaud and Charley Trevilly. Others such as Calvin Lucas, José Javier Perez, and well-known names such as Joël do Rego, Ugo Girardeau and Franck Giraud will also be back in the trophy.

Top female driver in 2021, Margot Dupuy will be back to confirm her progress and complete the double to win a drive with an Alpine A110 Rally in 2023. However, the competition will be fierce with the arrival of Capucine Ouvry, Marina Breuil, Élodie Gines and three-time French Women's Rally Champion, Allison Viano. Meanwhile, the Gentlemen category will be in full swing, with experienced Franck Barry, José Da Cunha, Christophe Fontaine, Thomas Gaume, Jean-Pierre Lejeune and Éric Royère all confirmed in partial or complete programmes.

Lasty, many newcomers to the trophy will attempt to dictate their pace with the debuts of Théo Apchie, Mathieu Bonche, Guillaume Bonnet, Gabriel Conti, Yoan Corberand, Nicolas Hebrard, Ayoub Hjirate, Sylvain Janny, Maxence Passaquet, Arthur Pelamourgues or Matthieu Suzzarini to name but a few!

Clio Trophy France Terre expands

Launched in 2021, the Clio Trophy France Terre was immediately appealing, and more crews will compete this year!

After having seen the title slip from his grasp by 14.9 seconds, Jean Paul Monnin will be out for revenge, but he will face stiff competition. Fourth and fifth last year, Simon Heinemann and Sébastien Studer are also returning to demonstrate how much they improved while Vincent Favre-Miville and Florian Condamines will look to put their gravel experience to good use. Pierre-Yves Esparcieux will also hope to create a surprise on a surface that he will discover.

The battle to succeed Quentin Ribaud in the Junior category will be wide open. Thomas Mouysset, Baptiste Panissie, sixth in the French Junior Rallycross Championship with Clio RX, and Julien Pontal, who moves from the Clio Trophy France Asphalte to the Clio Trophy France Terre, will be among the title pretenders. Jean Lavigne and the Malagasy brothers Faniry and Mika Rasoamaromaka will also want to be in the mix. The Gentlemen category, newly added to the trophy, is likely to be fiercely contested as well, with the likes of Lilian Vialle, Eric Royère and Claudie Tanghe, whose vast experience could enable him to be a contender for outright victory.

Champions ready for the challenge

Winners in their respective trophies last year in the general and junior categories as well as the French two-wheel-drive Rally Championship on both surfaces, Romain Di-Fante and Quentin Ribaud are also preparing for their official programmes behind the wheel of Clio Rally4.

As part of their learning processes, Romain Di-Fante and Naudon Rallye Services scored a category victory and an overall top ten finish on the Rallye de la Côte Fleurie last weekend before heading to Le Touquet to begin the defence of their national title. Meanwhile, Quentin Ribaud continues to get his bearings with Fun Meca Sport for the Rallye Terre des Causses scheduled for early April.

2022 Calendars

Clio Trophy France Asphalte
17-19 March: Rallye Le Touquet – Pas de Calais
20-22 May: Rallye Antibes Côte d’Azur
7-9 July: Rallye Aveyron Rouergue Occitanie
8-10 September: Rallye Mont-Blanc Morzine
27-29 Ocotber: Critérium des Cévennes

Clio Trophy France Terre
1-3 April: Rallye Terre des Causses
6-8 May: Rallye Terre de Castine
22-24 July: Rallye Terre de Langres
26-28 August: Rallye Terre de Lozère
7-9 October Rallye Terre des Cardabelles