Carbonaro in the lead in Vaucluse

For once, Jean-Marie Cuoq, although present, is not at the head of the event! The driver of the 206 WRC first voluntarily showed up late at the end of the reconnaissance lap, receiving a 40-second penalty “in order not to interfere in the championship”. Then a recurring problem with the hydraulic handbrake hampered him a little, and the Ardéchois only set three best times out of six special stages. This evening, he is in seventh place in the general classification, at 1:04?? from leader Laurent Carbonaro.

For this one, the day was without problems: “Relax, and tomorrow we will try to keep this place. I don't think about the championship, I have no pressure. » Paul Chieusse also had an almost uneventful stage, with just a botched start and a few note errors in the first round. As for the leader of the championship, the Belgian Dominique Bruyneel, he rides without forcing, just to secure the points necessary for the title of champion of France.

Among the other drivers highlighted during this first stage, François Durieu, who occupied first place for a time, was delayed in the second loop by a broken left rear universal joint: “but unfortunately, we do not have the part in stock. If we don't find one before tomorrow, we won't leave. » Another worried pilot, Julien Maurin. The young hopeful is not guaranteed to keep his very good second place, because his Mitsubishi? rented to Fred Sauvan? is experiencing a major clutch problem.