Cuoq attacks the title at the Critérium des Cévennes

This Thursday, 180 crews set off from the Critérium des Cévennes, scene of the 7th and penultimate round of the French rally championship. The event organized by the ASA of Hérault could well be decisive in the awarding of several titles, including that of the Drivers, that of the Juniors and that of the Teams championship. The last two rounds of 2012 – Cévennes and Var – have a coefficient of 2, and the points collected will count double.

To be crowned champion on Saturday evening in Montpellier, Jean-Marie Cuoq (Ford Focus WRC) will have to be more than 40 points ahead of his closest pursuer. Many scenarios are possible but a victory or even a 2nd place would be enough to give him the crown. Forfeited in the Cévennes, Stéphane Sarrazin (3rd in the championship) is no longer in the title race while Freddy Loix, 2nd with 54 points behind, attempts a coup by swapping his Peugeot 207 S2000 against the 307 WRC of the 2C Combrondre team in order to extend the deadline until the final in Var. Gilles Nantet, reigning champion, currently 6th in the general classification behind Cédric Robert and Matthieu Arzeno, for his part no longer has many illusions about the possibility of retaining his crown although he is still in the race on the sole level arithmetic! The Twingo R1 France and Twingo R2 France Trophies are also part of the Montpellier side.

The start of the 55th edition of the Critérium des Cévennes is given this Thursday (17 p.m.) at the Odysseum in Montpellier, but the special stages will not begin until the next day between Ganges and Le Vigan. Arrival and podium in Montpellier (Odysseum) from 20:56 p.m.