Renault and Castrol promote talent in 2024

Introduced in 2020, Clio Rally5 was joined by Clio Rally4 in 2021 and Clio Rally3 just under a year ago so competitors can work up the rally pyramid, from their first outings to their four-wheel drive debut. Thanks to their titles in the Clio Trophy Junior categories, three hopefuls will have the opportunity to confirm their talent by swapping their Clio Rally5 for a Clio Rally3 adorned with a spectacular Castrol livery, major partner in the brand's customer racing activities.

Benjamin Stirling set for five rounds in the French Rally Championship

Clio Trophy France Asphalte title-winner with two victories and four podium finishes from five starts last year, Benjamin Stirling is ready to take over from Anthony Fotia, Romain Di-Fante and Tom Pieri. The Alsatian then won a five-round programme with Clio Rally3, run by the title-winning team, Sébastien Loeb Racing. It's a squad he knows well, having competed in the 2022 and 2023 seasons with the team led by Dominique Heintz and Jean-Philippe Nicolao.

Co-driven by his wife Florence, the 27-year-old will kick off his campaign at Le Touquet before taking to his home turf on the Rallye Vosges Grand Est. He will then line up in Rouergue, Mont-Blanc and the Cévennes. Like his counterparts, the young hopeful will benefit from the support of Alpine Racing, Castrol, Michelin and Sabelt on each event to facilitate his transition to four-wheel drive and continue his ascent in the rally pyramid.

Benjamin Stirling: "We are extremely proud and delighted to begin our official programme. We'll be competing in the same events as Clio Trophy France Asphalte, and we're particularly looking forward to our home round, the Rallye Vosges Grand Est. We've worked hard to prepare ourselves as best we can, and we got a taste of Clio Rally3 in testing. It was a blast, some good work and really lived up to our expectations. The season is now underway, and I'd like to thank Alpine Racing, Sébastien Loeb Racing and all the partners in this programme. We will proudly represent their colours and do our best to fly them high in every rally." 

Double gravel dose for Matteo Chatillon in France

Matteo Chatillon has made a meteoric rise since his rally debut. The son of Loïc Chatillon, winner of the Rallye Jeunes operation in 2000, has accelerated his progress in the trophies dedicated to Clio Rally5, winning more stages than anyone else last year in the Clio Trophy France Terre.

Winner of the Jean Ragnotti Power Stage Trophy and top Junior, the 22-year-old made a strong impression on his Clio Rally3 debut, battling for victory on two rallying monuments, RallyRACC Catalunya and Rallye Monte-Carlo, before an outright win at the Rallye de la Vienne last week. Navigated by Maxence Cornuau, he will draw on the experience of 3P Racing, which won the Clio Trophy France Terre team title. Alongside his French Gravel Rally Championship appearences, Matteo Chatillon will also be campaigning in WRC3 with ARL Sport.

Matteo Chatillon: "This two-round programme is a great help to us, as we'll be running our Clio Rally3, decked out in official Castrol livery, at the Terre des Causses and Aléria. In parallel, we're targeting the WRC3 with our sights set on the world title by next year to continue our ascent. We've already contested the Rallye Monte-Carlo with Clio Rally3, the ARL Sport technical team and the invaluable advice of Patrick Magaud. This legendary event has enabled us to learn more and test ourselves at this level. We'll move on to Croatia, Portugal, Sardinia and possibly Finland before finishing with the Acropolis or Central Europe. I want to say a big thank you to Alpine Racing and every partner involved in this programme!"

Two rounds minimum for Lander Depotter in Belgium

Clio Rally3 will also be in action beyond France's borders, with the official Castrol Clio Rally3 entrusted to Lander Depotter in Belgium. Since his debut in 2021, this promising young driver has made rapid progress, finishing fifth in the Clio Trophy Belgium in 2022. After claiming the title in his first full season in 2023 at the end of an eventful final in which he demonstrated his ability to strike the right balance between attack and management, he also won the Belgian Rally Cup in the RC5 category. 

As he celebrated his 21st birthday last Thursday, Lander Depotter will make his first foray into four-wheel drive with a minimum of two appearances in the Belgian Rally Championship. Accompanied by trusty co-driver Jasper Maelfait and the Pieter Tsjoen Racing team, a veritable benchmark in Belgium, he will debut on the Rallye de Wallonie before competing on the Omloop van Vlaanderen.

Lander Depotter: "We're really excited and looking forward to getting behind the wheel of Clio Rally3 with the Pieter Tsjoen Racing team. I've never driven a four-wheel drive car, so this will be a completely new experience. I had the opportunity to give it a go during a short test session, and the first impressions were very positive. We're looking forward to the Rallye de Wallonie and also to the slippery roads of the Omloop van Vlaanderen, not far from home! We hope to put on a good show and get into a good rhythm with the car while enjoying ourselves. I want to thank Renault and the whole Pieter Tsjoen Racing team for making this programme possible!" 

2024 calendars 

Benjamin Stirling – French Rally Championship
14-16 March: Rallye Le Touquet Pas de Calais
14-16 June: Rallye Vosges Grand Est
4-6 July : Rallye Aveyron Rouergue Occitanie
5-7 September: Rallye Mont-Blanc Morzine
24-26 October: Critérium des Cévennes 

Matteo Chatillon – French Gravel Rally Championship
5-7 April: Rallye Terre des Causses
23-25 May: Rallye Terre d’Aléria 

Lander Depotter – Belgian Rally Championship
27-28 April: Rallye de Wallonie
6-7 September: Omloop van Vlaanderen