Clio Trophy France Asphalte and Terre ready for 2023

Since the introduction of Clio Rally5 in 2020, the two national series dedicated to the model have proven to be the perfect springboard for young aspirants and drivers looking for excitement on the most challenging stages of the French Rally Championship. After attracting nearly 130 crews last year, the 2023 vintage promises to be even more appealing, combining quantity and quality again on both surfaces!

Battles at all levels on tarmac

More than forty crews have already announced their participation to try to succeed Anthony Fotia, Romain Di-Fante and Thomas Chauffray in Clio Trophy France Asphalte.

Runner-up to Thomas Chauffray in 2022, Patrick Magnou will be among the favourites. The competition, however, will be extremely tough. Benjamin Barnouin and Benjamin Stirling, two Juniors who finished in the overall top five last year, have loftier ambitions in 2023. Both are determined to have their moment of glory, as are Louis Myr, Yannick Francisci and Valentin Ascenzi, who are eager to accelerate their development and confirm the hopes placed upon them. Arthur Pelamourgues, Arthur Roché, Calvin Lucas, Enzo Beschet and Théo Apchie are other hopefuls to keep a close eye on, but new contenders are arriving after impressing at different levels. Jean-Claude Pietri, Dylan Gagnière, Tobias Laurence, Martin Massé, Tom Pellerey, Romain Perrin cannot be overlooked, just as Quentin Roger and Jordan D'Agostino, both former French Junior Rally Championship competitors.

Against this youth movement, Yoan Corberand, Julien Deslauriers and Nicolas Hebrard will be relying on their experience to get to the sharp end of the order, just like the always spectacular and commtted Romain Fostier. Several well-known faces will also energise the field, with Matthieu Fassio, Ugo Girardeau, Franck Giraud, Jérôme Janny and Sylvain Janny, whilst Christophe Gouville returns to the service park at the opening Le Touquet round. Close attention also must be paid to newcomer Maxime Krasnobaev, a Rallye Jeunes finalist in 2022, as well as the performances of Mattéo Chatillon and Tom Vauclare, two Clio Trophy France Terre frontrunners ready to have a go on the tarmac!

In the Women's category, Juniors Carla Gaffayoli and Manon Massarotto will challenge three-time French Women's Rally Champion Allison Viano in the race to succeed Élodie Gines. Meanwhile, the fight will be in full swing in the Gentlemen category, where Mike Souvigné has his sights on following Eric Royère. The Luxemburg driver will battle against José da Cunha and Jean-Pierre Lejeune whereas experienced Willy Mathey, Pascal Donnadieu, Pascal Bérard and Patrick Favre hope to shake up the hierarchy.

Tremendous popularity confirmed on gravel

Introduced in 2021, the Clio Trophy France Terre continued its incredible growth in 2022, and it will frequently feature a field of more than 30 crews on each rally in 2023!

After the titles won by Quentin Ribaud and Florian Bouchonneau, the battle for the crown promises to be tremendous. Last year's runner-up Julien Pontal returns with only one goal: the overall/Juniors double. To the great joy of the spectators, this mission will be far from easy as he will again battle other former winners in Florian Condamines, Jean-Paul Monnin, Mattéo Chatillon and Bastien Bergounhe. Real revelations in 2022, the Malagasy brothers Faniry and Mika Rasoamaromaka also return with higher ambitions thanks to what they learned last year.

The arrival of new contenders makes it even harder to predict the hierarchy. The service park will thus include the experienced Jean-Sébastien Vigion and John Laroche, who finished third in 2021, without forgetting Patrick Magnou, who competes on both surfaces. Amongst the younger drivers, Baptiste Panissié, Jean Lavigne, Maxime Lafon and Thomas Mouysset have confirmed their entry to underline their progress and to battle for the official 2024 programme. The Junior category will also welcome Anthony Rovina, Axel Rakotomalala and Loïc de la Taste, three newcomers determined to display their full potential.

Laurent Reuche, always a formidable contender for the overall victory, will defend his title in the Gentlemen category, where he will cross swords with well-known rivals such as Vincent Favre-Miville, Emmanuel Guinchard, Lilian Vialle and Christophe Rocard whilst Ludovic De Luca and Marc Reboa will also be in the mix. Like last year, Inès and Justin Tamisier will share the driving duties, codriven by their father, Laurent. Sylvain Tamisier,  Ludovic Casciani and Alexandre Gransagne will also be back. While Johan Gres and Loïc Pautou are moving from the Clio Trophy France Asphalte to the Clio Trophy France Terre, other protagonists will make their debuts either on gravel or in the trophy, such as Christophe Truchet, Charles Thonnelier, Arthur Rebut and 2016 Swiss Junior Champion, Aurélien Devanthery.

For more information on the Clio Trophy France Asphalte and Clio Trophy France Terre calendar, prizes and awards, go to www.cliorally.com.

2023 calendars

Clio Trophy France Asphalte
16-18 March: Rallye Le Touquet Pas-de-Calais
18-20 May: Rallye Antibes Côte d’Azur
6-8 July: Rallye Aveyron Rouergue Occitanie
31 August-2 September: Rallye Mont-Blanc Morzine
29 September -1 October : Rallye Cœur de France

Clio Trophy France Terre
30 March-2 April: Rallye Terre des Causses
5-7 May: Rallye Terre de Castine
1-3 June : Rallye Terre d’Aléria
25-27 August: Rallye Terre de Lozère
6-8 October: Rallye Terre des Cardabelles