Ciamin hits a big blow at the Rallye du Touquet

Nicolas Ciamin was able to take advantage of Spring which came a few days earlier on the banks of the Côte d'Opale for the start of the 2022 French Championship. On the driver's side, everyone prepared in the best possible way and the traditional obligations before departure quietly increase the pressure. “ Now we are all eager to know the verdict of the clock, Yoann Bonato then admits. We rode well during testing before the rally, we are ready, I made few shakedown passes. » Alas, the quadruple champion will not have the opportunity to read his time on the scoreboard at the finish of SS 1, Bonato being the victim of the breakage of the central transmission shaft of his Citroën C3 Rally2 at high speed, just before braking. The sanction is immediate. The 2 Alpes pilot has already burned his joker.

A tough start for the reigning champion © Bastien Roux / DPPI

Quentin Gilbert took the opportunity to become the first leader of the rally, but Nicolas Ciamin will not take long to respond. Just enough time for Ciamin to get his bearings with the i20 N Rally2, which he climbed to the top of the timesheet from the second special. “ Certainly the roads are dry, but I wonder if it is not worse than when it rains, because there is really no grip in places, explains Ciamin after the first loop. I am still discovering the Hyundai. » He took advantage of the first stage to distance himself from his opponents and let Quentin Giordano and Quentin Gilbert fight for runners-up. The two drivers from the Grand-Est engaged in an intense duel and Gilbert was ahead of Giordano by 3”7 at the end of the first day.

Heading towards Chile

On Saturday, while Ciamin preserved his lead by setting scratches at opportune moments, Giordano and Gilbert pushed their limits to validate second place and victory in the Michelin Premium Trophy. Quentin Gilbert pays the price when passing through a field. “ We had to attack, I have no regretss,” confides the C3 Rally2 driver before taking the 3rd step of the podium. Struggling with a lack of grip on the first day on his Polo