Snobeck enjoys Mont-Blanc

The French Champion and winner here last year, Dany Snobeck, flew over the first stage of the Rally Mont-Blanc Morzine, fifth stage of the French Rally Championship. The Alsatian took the lead from the first special, Montriond le Lac, and never let go. He then set six fastest times out of the seven in the first stage.

On wet roads throughout the day and in rainy weather, Snobeck managed to get the most out of his 307 WRC and is 59 seconds ahead of Patrick Henry on Friday evening. “ The roads are very slippery », concedes the leader. “ Overall, it was a difficult day. You can't really attack on terrain like that. There are a lot of pitfalls. »

Behind, Pierre Roché took advantage of the abandonment of Kris Meeke (Peugeot 207 S2000) on engine overheating to move up to provisional third place. For his first participation in the Rallye Mont-Blanc Morzine, the Amboise driver did well. “ This morning it was a little difficult to find the rhythm because it is the first time that I have ridden on these roads in Mont-Blanc “, he says. " I had some difficulty understanding the terrain because sometimes it was dry and sometimes it was wet. This afternoon I rode better and I hope to do even better tomorrow on a road that we hope will be dry. »

Highly awaited by the regular competitors in the championship, Kris Meeke had to retire after SS6 due to engine overheating. The Northern Irishman had been a formidable leader in the category until then and will be back on Saturday in SupeRally.

Finally, Eddie Mercier (Peugeot 307 WRC), for his last rally on asphalt, managed to deprive Dany Snobeck of all the best times by signing the scratch in SS4. But, due to a power steering failure, the driver from Thonon-les-Bains lost more than two minutes on the first loop. He finished ninth this evening.

The 61st Rallye Mont-Blanc Morzine will end tomorrow with nine special stages.