Cévennes – Maurin titled, the suspense remains despite everything

It's a provided board, but with only four WRC and three S2000s, which will start the 2013 edition of the Critérium des Cévennes on Friday morning. On this emblematic round of the French championship, cut off this year from the Cadière sector, we awaited the duel for the title between Julien Maurin and Jean-Marie Cuoq. The announcement of the absence of the latter, who favors the Cardabelles and the French dirt championship, will deprive the public of a great pass of arms.

The new French champion will nevertheless ride with his bridle at the wheel of his Fiesta WRC and will do everything to ensure the Team title for his team, Emap Yacco. Jean-François Mourgues (DS3 WRC), Pierre Roché (Mini WRC) or Eric Rousset (C4 WRC) will be his main rivals for the final victory. Gilles Nantet will not be at the start after his violent exit from the road at rally d’Antibes, le mois dernier. Le pilote de la Porsche 997 Cup GT souffre de deux côtes cassées et trois fractures aux vertèbres.

However, the suspense remains total in the Twingo Trophy. In R1, the Florian Bernardi – Axel Garcia duel promises sparks for the French Junior championship after the latter city's downgrade for technical non-compliance on its Twingo RS during the last Mont-Blanc Morzine. Garcia therefore hopes to make up for it at home. Ten points separate the two rivals before the start. Bernardi wants to “score as many points as possible to approach the Var in the best possible conditions”. Five other drivers can still mathematically play for the title.

In Twingo R2, Yann Clairay will want to continue the momentum of his victory in Morzine. With nine points ahead of Nicolas Romiguière with two events remaining, the leader of the R2 trophy knows that the Cévennes can be decisive in awarding the title. He will leave at a disadvantage due to his lack of knowledge of the terrain. Also watch out for Manu Guigou who knows the Critérium perfectly and who will ride on an Automeca Twingo RS R2 Evo. Jérémie Sérieys will also play his card at home, on a rally that he won last year in a Twingo R1.

The Opel Adam Cup also promises a great fight between Yoann Bonato, leader before this rally, Rémi Jouines and Guillaume Sirot. Finally, note the participation of Romain Dumas on an original PGO Hemera.