Patrick Henry wins Alsace-Vosges

In the absence of Pierre and Martine Roché whose Subaru Impreza WRC was damaged during the shakedown, the first stage was led by Patrick Henry and Magali Lombard (Peugeot 206WRC) and Jean-Sébastien Vigion and Eric Yvernault (Peugeot 207 Super 2000).

Despite a power deficit, Jean-Sébastien Vigion showed great ability to keep up with the pace of the former French Champion and his WRC in difficult conditions, between the storms which fell on the roads of Bas-Rhin. With several best times, Limougeaud was able to keep the gap under fifteen seconds before being trapped on a water slide and giving up on the second pass in Blienschwiller? Epfig (ES8).

Promoted to second place, Guillaume Canivenq and Sébastien Grimal (Peugeot 207 Super 2000) did not have time to express themselves while the roads of the second stage were dry. An engine problem, the result of landing a jump, forced them to abandon the first stage of the second stage between Epinal and Urimenil in the Vosges.

The withdrawal of the two Peugeot 207 Super 2000s prepared by Barroso Sport allowed Marc Barbé and Stéphane Renelleau (Peugeot 206WRC) to finish in second place, almost four minutes behind the untouchable Patrick Henry, winner for the second consecutive time of the Rally Alsace-Vosges like Didier Auriol, Bernard Béguin, Philippe Bugalski and Brice Tirabassi before him.

“It was a very positive weekend with a solid success for Team GPC Motorsport,” explains the winner. “We had fun all weekend, whether on smooth roads yesterday or in the dry today. The car is very nice to drive. I immediately found the right settings. I rolled by hand without really looking at what the others were doing. Without thinking about the championship, I was able to do my race freely. »

Taking advantage of the problems of the Super 2000 (abandonment of the Peugeot and power steering problem on Gal?s Abarth), Emmanuel Guigou and David Marty (Renault Clio R3) won their first victory in the BFGoodrich Trophy and finished on the podium in the final general classification by winning in Group R. Praised by the public for the spectacle offered, the vice Champion of France for Land Rallies took the opportunity to take the leader of the 2009 French Championship: “It’s fabulous! I progressed little by little towards the rally podium. I take the lead in the Championship with my little Clio, it's exceptional against big cars at the start of each rally. It's quite opportunistic but we are here. »

Olivier Courtois and Damien Jole (Renault Maxi Mégane) and Patrick Rouillard and Cédric Mondon (Renault Maxi Mégane) complete the podium of the BFGoodrich Trophy.

Jérémi Ancian and Damien Mezy win the second round of the Suzuki Rallye Cup? FFSA 2009 by leading the category from start to finish. Jérôme Schmitt and Fanny Jeudi finished in second place ahead of Cédric Durand and Christiane Nicolet. Jérémi Ancian takes the lead in the Cup ahead of Jérôme Schmitt and Cédric Durand. Winner at Charbonnières, Pierre Campana retired at the end of the first stage following a trip.