Jean-Michel Da Cunha winner of the Rally Final in Albi

Until the end, Jean-Michel Da Cunha (Citroën C3 R5) and David Salanon (Skoda Fabia R5) maintained the suspense in the final of the French Rally Cup.

If Anthony Puppo (Skoda Fabia R5) had set the best time in SS1, it was Salanon who set the pace from SS2 and who finished the first day on Friday in the lead with 6″ ahead of Jean-Mathieu Léandri (Volkswagen Polo GTI R5) and 11″ on Da Cunha.

The latter then begins its rise throughout the day on Saturday. Author of four scratch times, the driver of the C3 R5 takes the advantage at the end of SS7, with an eight-tenths lead over Salanon. A fatal special for Puppo, victim of a road exit.

The final ES saw Salanon set the best time, but despite a spin, Da Cunha only conceded a tenth and won by 0″7 against the driver of the Skoda Fabia R5. The podium is completed by Antonin Mougin (Volkswagen Polo GTI R5).

“It’s an immense emotion,” says the winner. We believed in it all weekend and we didn't give up! I told David during the Black Mountain that we would be present here. He pushed me to my limits.

With Sébastien, we were very focused in the car. We were at full tilt everywhere and we even made two mistakes which could have cost us dearly but we will forget that with the victory. »

Final Ranking of the 2019 Rallies:

Jean-Michel Da Cunha / Sébastien Durand (Citroën C3 R5) in 1h04m45s9

David Salanon / Laurent Magat (Skoda Fabia R5) at 0s7

Antonin Mougin / Florent Diottin (Volkswagen Polo GTI R5) at 27s3

Jean-Mathieu Leandri / Jean-Noël Vesperini (Volkswagen Polo GTI R5) at 32s0

Kévin Bochatay / Thibault Glasson-Blanchet (Skoda Fabia R5) at 43s4

Bruno Riberi / Florian Haut-Labourdette (Volkswagen Polo GTI R5) at 1m02s3

Patrick Rouillard / Cédric Gamboni (Skoda Fabia R5) at 1m03s8

Paul-André Mariani / Thibaut Stella (Skoda Fabia R5 Evo) at 2m03s2

Jean-Laurent Chivaydel / Nicolas Capoulade (Ford Fiesta R5) at 2m14s1

Laurent Lacomy / Jérôme Bard (Citroën C3 R5) at 2m16s3…