Bonato leads Gilbert by a short head at the Coeur de France

Only 11″ separate the first three in the general classification from the first stage of a Rally Heart of France contested under a sky alternating between fine weather and showers this weekend near Vendôme (Loir-et-Cher).

The best start this morning in SS1, Yoann Bonato (Citroën C3 R5 – CHL Sport Auto) today left only the double pass in Bessé-sur-Braye to Quentin Gilbert (Citroën C3 R5 – TM Compétition), who briefly took the lead in SS2 after a straight run from Bonato.

Despite this domination in the number of scratches, Bonato only has a 4″9 margin over Gilbert this evening, when Quentin Giordano (Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 – Sarrazin Motorsport) maintains all his chances at 10″9, having been consistent, despite also some trajectory deviations and a slow puncture.

Announced as one of the main opponents of Bonato, Jean-Baptiste Franceschi (Citroën C3 R5 – PH Sport) pays for a slight lack of experience on this terrain in R5, and concedes 25″3 on Bonato this Saturday. The winner of the Peugeot 208 Rally Cup 2019 admits to having been hampered by inappropriate settings at the end of the morning.

Pierre Roché, multiple winner on his land, completes the top 5, 1'03″4 behind the leader at the wheel of his Citroën C3 R5 – Team FJ. Let us note a new disappointment for William Wagner (Citroën C3 R5 – PH Sport), too quickly removed from the first places after a puncture in the morning.

In spirit at Mont-Blanc, the Alpine A110 R-GT are less at the forefront, despite terrain that could have suited them. On roads fairly polluted by gravel, Manu Guigou ranks eighth at the end of this first day, while Cédric Robert is only 11th after being penalized by 1'10" for a late check-in before SS3, following mechanical problems.

Better than the Alpine, Anthony Cosson (Porsche 911 GT3) a été contraint à l’abandon sur problème électrique. En Clio Trophy, Thomas Chauffrey domine les débats avec 19″8 d’avance sur Guillaume Canivenq et Anthony Fotia.

Florent Todeschini dominates the French Junior Championship rankings with a 14″6 lead over Léo Rossel. In line with the leaders from the start, Tom Pieri (winner of Rallye Jeunes) lost 1'30" in SS5 due to a mechanical problem forcing him to get out of the car and plunged in the standings.

Rallye Coeur de France ranking after Stage 1:

1.Bonato/Boulloud (Citroën C3 R5, Team CHL Sport Auto) in 1h08m05s2

2.Gilbert/Guieu (Citroën C3 R5) + 4s9

3.Giordano/Parent (Volkswagen Polo R5, Team Sarrazin Motorsport) + 10s9

4.Franceschi/Haut-Labourdette (Citroën C3 R5, PH Sport – GT2i) + 25s3

5.Roché/Roché (Citroën C3 R5, Team FJ) + 1m03s4

6.Habouzit/Declerck (Citroën C3 R5, Team PH Sport GT2i) + 1m35s2

7.Mauffrey/Bronner (Skoda Fabia R5 Evo) + 2m32s6

8.Guigou/Coria (Alpine A110 RGT16) + 2m36s6

9.Rouillard/Gamboni (Skoda Fabia R5) + 2m59s9

10.Wagner/Millet (Citroën C3 R5, Team PH Sport GT2i) + 3m02s7…