Rally – The Olivier Marty festival in Rouergue

Former Opel Adam Cup winner achieved the Grand Slam during the first stage of the Rally of Rouergue 2014. The driver of the Ford Focus won all the special stages of the day, including the two passages in the famous Campouriez ES and its 35 km. Jean-Michel Da Cunha and his Citroën DS3 WRC were the closest to Marty, but this evening are 30″5 behind the leader. It is Quentin Gilbert, also on Citroën DS3 WRC who completes the podium of the first stage at 43″3 from Marty.

Reigning French Champion Julien Maurin is 4th with his Ford Fiesta R5. As he had announced, Maurin is not fighting for victory in this rally, but is preparing for his next World Cup events. In the Michelin Trophy, the peloton was cut off from the start by Jonathan Hirschi's 207 S2000, forced to retire even before the first SS, due to a water pump problem. The Lebanese Roger Feghali dominates the category with his Peugeot 207 S2000 in front of Porsche 911 by Patrick Rouillard and Gilles Nantet. In Group N, Manu Guigou and his Renault Megane RS took control of the event, and is ahead of Pierre Ragues' Skoda Fabia S2000 in the general classification.

The second stage will start tomorrow at 10:43 a.m. and the rally can still be followed on AUTOhebdo.fr.