Champagne for Pierre Roché

Leading from the first to the last special stage, Pierre and his mother Martine Roché dominated the Rally Epernay Vins de Champagne despite the presence of two former winners (Alain Vauthier, 5 victories and Armando Pereira, 2 victories).

Among the five pilots in WRC, Jean-Marie Lexcellent (Peugeot 206WRC) was the first to be sidelined from the fight for victory with a puncture in SS3.

Second at the end of the first day, José Barbara had to work to regain his position in the middle of the second stage. Penalized for an early start then slowed down by a puncture, the Northerner was able to get the better of Armando Pereira, victim of a straight-on, after SS7 while Pierre Roché already had a one-minute lead.

“It’s a good result before participating in the French Championship. We made good progress with the settings of the Subaru Impreza WRC during this rally. I am confident. There is still progress to be made but I am happy to win on a difficult rally. »

Alain Vauthier, never able to play the leading roles, finished in fourth place while Hervé Paternot won Group N with a final sixth place.

The first event of the new Clio R3 France Trophy falls into the hands of Dominique Rebout and Thierry Salva. Sébastien's brother-in-law Loeb ahead of Pierre Campana and Sabrina de Castelli with seven best times out of ten possible.

As part of the Citroën Racing Trophy, also launched during this event, Marc Amourette, fifth in the general classification with his Citroën C2 Super 1600, and Christophe Voirin, winner of Group R and eighth with his Citroën C2-R2 MAX, took the first bonuses.

Next meeting of the French Rally Cup coefficient 5 next week with the Rallye Pays de Gier in Saint-Chamond.