The winners of the Michelin Rallye Tour 2022

Michelin winner Rally Tower – 4 Wheel Drive

Denis Millet – VW Polo GTI

Denis Millet © Bastien Roux / DPPI

He made it his main objective at the start of the season and he succeeded! Denis Millet wins the Michelin Rally Tour in the 4-wheel drive category with seven victories in twelve rallies. “I had built my program according to this ambition, because I wanted to participate in at least one French championship event in optimal conditions, which is what victory in the Michelin Rally Tour offers” explains the amateur pilot from Besançon (Doubs, ), delighted with his 2022 season, also punctuated by a qualification for the final of the 2022 French Rally Cup (ultimately canceled). Postponed to February, he will not participate, his Polo R2 being in pieces for a major overhaul. As he accomplishes this task almost alone, in the evening, after his work as workshop manager, the winter will be short! Only the engine and gearbox are entrusted externally.

Denis Millet © Vincent Viron

Millet will start at Le Touquet (March 16-18, 2023), a rally that he will compete in like a “pro” given that it is the Michelin Rally Tour reward. We will surely see Denis again in two other championship rallies. Before he devotes himself to his qualification for the 2023 final with an alternation of half a dozen national and regional events. No doubt, the former 2003 FFSA Youth Rally driver got back on track and made us forget his terrible disillusionment with the 2021 final in Châteauroux (Indre) where he played for victory against Stéphane Lefebvre before his exit in the last kilometers! “As he will wear our colors at Le Touquet with his own Polo shirt, we will help him in other rounds, because Michelin listens to its customers to help them with their projects” confides Julien Vial, customer competition director for the Clermont-based manufacturer. FF

Winner Michelin Rallye Tour – 2 Wheel Drive

Patrick Benne – Peugeot 208 Rally4

Patrick Benne © Bastien Roux / DPPI

After starting in competition late in 2007 at the wheel of a Citroën Saxo F2000, Patrick Benne can boast, at 48 years old, of an eloquent record of 35 class victories in 113 starts. “It’s certainly the fruit of maturity, I get up in the morning thinking about rallying and I go to bed in the evening thinking about rallying”, indicates the dashing forty-something. The rest of the time, Patrick manages the automobile garage Garage Benne Frères and Patrick Benne Automobiles in Rigautou, near Mazamet (Tarn). It was also at home, at the Montagne Noire rally last July, that he achieved one of his best performances of the year with a 5^e place scratch. “I like numbers, it's certainly a professional distortion, but I will always prefer a beautiful, well-run rally to a good scratch classification. »

Patrick Benne © DPPI

The choice of the French Championship Rally where he will line up as a reward for his victory in the Michelin Rallye Tour has already been made. “ It will be the Mont-Blanc rally (September 7-9, 2023. Editor’s note), for the exceptional setting, enthuses Patrick. It will be the occasion for a wonderful celebration to thank above all my family, my co-pilots Brice, Antoine and Ludwig, my loyal assistance Léon and Quentin and my partners Phiteo, Mazamet Médical and Kryate who allow me to satisfy this passion. » In 2023, Benne will leave for a season behind the wheel of the 208 Rally4. “The best choice at my level. I was able to compete in a few events in R5, it's great, but way too expensive. Why not join one day in Alpine A110… I am a big collector of Michelin objects in particular and rally souvenirs in general so this brand touches me. » GC