Mont-Blanc Morzine - Heavy duty for the recovery

After two months of summer break, more than two hundred drivers met in Morzine for the sixth round of the French Championship. One of the attractions of the weekend will be the discovery of the Opel e-Rally Cup which is making a stopover in France for the first time.

Published on 08/09/2022 à 09:44

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Mont-Blanc Morzine – Heavy for the recovery

Yoann Bonato and Benjamin Boulloud put their title back on the line © Grégory Lenormand / DPPI

Leader du Championnat de France avec notamment deux victoires et trois deuxièmes places, Quentin Giordano (Polo GTI R5-Sarrazin Motorsport) veut profiter de son passage à Morzine pour creuser l’écart sur ses poursuivants. Vainqueur au Touquet, Nicolas Ciamin (i20 N Rally2-Hyundai 2C Compétition) sait qu’il doit impérativement monter sur la plus haute marche du podium pour rester dans la course au titre.

GIORDANO Quentin, PARENT Kevin, Volkswagen Polo GTI © Gregory Lenormand / DPPI

With two victories and three retirements, Yoann Bonato (C3 Rally2-CHL Sport Auto) has become “the disruptive element”. The 2 Alpes driver, defending champion, intends to seek a sixth victory in Morzine to become the best performer in the event ahead of drivers like Philippe Bugalski, Bruno Saby and Didier Auriol.

Reconnaissance is underway at the foot of Mont-Blanc © Bastien Roux / DPPI

The roads of Rally Mont-Blanc Morzine lends itself perfectly to the characteristics of theAlpine A110 Rally. Leader of the 2WD Championship, Cédric Robert (Team Bonneton HdG) could well see himself taking a hit on these fast specials. The Stéphanois finds a strong opponent in R-GT. Indeed, Quentin Gilbert returns to the French Championship at the wheel of the A110 Rally.

ROBERT Cedric, DUVAL Matthew Alpine A110 © Damien Saulnier / DPPI

As for the outsiders, there are many aiming for a place on the podium for the start of the Championship. Jérémi Ancian (Polo GTI R5-Sarrazin Motorsport), William Wagner (Polo GTI R5-Sarrazin Motorsport), Hugo Margaillan (C3 Rally2-CHL Sport Auto), Pierre Roché (C3 Rally2-Team FJ), Eric Mauffrey (Fabia evo Rally2) , Patrick Rouillard (Fabia evo Rally2), Florian Bernardi (Fabia evo Rally2), Kevin Bochatay (C3 Rally2-CHL Sport Auto) and Thibault Habouzit (DS 3 WRC-PH Sport By GT2i) do not hide their ambitions for this visit to Haute-Savoie.

ROCHE Pierre (FRA), ROCHE Martine (FRA), Team FJ, Citroën C3 © Bastien Roux / DPPI

The Michelin Trophy will be the scene of fierce battles, whether with the Rally2/R-GT (Premium) or with Sarah Rumeau (Opel Corsa) and Ludovic Godard (Clio F2/14) among amateurs. The first mentioned will also aim for a new victory in the women's ranking.

Triple French Rally Champion (Amateur in 1997, Super 1600 in 2003 and Terrestrial in 2011) and double European Champion (2004 and 2007), Simon Jean-Joseph returns to service, for a weekend, with his faithful co-driver Patrick Pivato, with the Subaru Impreza Group A which allowed him to win the Mont-Blanc in 1998.

The Subaru Impreza Group A in action at Mont-Blanc Morzine © DPPI

With 51 competitors at the start, the Clio Trophy France confirms its incredible success! On the sporting side, Thomas Chauffray (Clio Rally5), uncompromising since the start of the season, could win the title this weekend.

The trophy Alpine Elf Rallye also marks its resumption and Cyril Raymond would be happy to end his bad streak (2 consecutive retirements) and return to the Trophy podium. For his part, Grégory Fontalba comes to capitalize on big points.

For the route, the riders will play well-known and popular pieces, including a variant of the ES des Lullin. With 183,7 kilometers divided into 14 special stages and 2 stages, the 74th edition of the Rallye Mont-Blanc Morzine remains faithful to tradition. The changing weather could shake things up.

BONATO Yoann (FRA), BOULLOUD Benjamin (FRA), CHL SPORT AUTO, Citroën C3 © Bastien Roux / DPPI

Launched in 2021 in Germany, the Opel e-Rally Cup is making a stopover in France for the first time with 12 Corsas, including one driven by Didier Malga, the only French representative.