Nikolay Gryazin and Konstantin Aleksandrov in Antibes in Citroën C3 Rally2

While the list of entrants of Rally The Antibes Côte d'Azur Rally is set to be unveiled this weekend, and following the announcement of Jean-Baptiste Franceschi's participation in an AMD Motorsport Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, further information was revealed this Thursday, May 07th, with the announcement that Nikolay Gryazin and Konstantin Aleksandrov will be driving a Citroën C3 Rally2 entered by PH Sport. The official Lancia Corse crew will also be competing this weekend in the Rally of Portugal. WRC, will therefore return to France after several appearances in the French Gravel Rally Championship in 2023, but also, for Nikolay Gryazin at least, a few participations at the end of the last decade in the Asphalt Championship. The Russian driver, competing under the Bulgarian flag, notably took 2nd place in the 2019 Rallye du Var behind Sébastien Loeb and Hyundai i20 Coupé WRC.

Gryazin returns in a Citroën C3 Rally2

As usual, the regulars of the French Rally Championship will be present in Antibes and will therefore face some worthy opponents, perhaps even capable of challenging for the top spots. It's worth remembering that Gryazin and Aleksandrov are very familiar with the Citroën C3 Rally2, having competed in 2024 alongside Yohan Rossel, Arnaud Dunand, Benjamin Boulloud, and Florian Barral under the DG Sport team, which at the time fielded the official Citroën entries. Since the 2024 season, Nikolay Gryazin and Konstantin Aleksandrov haven't driven the Citroën C3 Rally2, but with the experience gained in the Lancia Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale, the logical successor to the C3, there's no doubt that the two men will be able to handle their car well. To all these Rally2 events in Antibes, we must also add among the favorites the most recent winners on the CFR, Raphaël Astier and Denis Giraudet (Porsche 992 GT+).

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