Var – David Salanon gets the better of Sébastien Loeb

Forgot the straight ahead of SS1 yesterday Rally from the Var for David Salanon. The driver of the Ford Fiesta WRC found the right rhythm this Saturday to finish first in the final of the 2017 French Rally Championship.

After the day's leader Mathieu Arzeno (Skoda Fabia R5) went off the road in the first special (which was finally neutralized after the passage of five competitors), Sébastien Loeb (Peugeot 306 Maxi) had taken control of the race, followed less than two seconds by Hugo Margaillan (Citroën DS3 R5) and David Salanon.

The latter quickly took second place from Margaillan on SS5, but then saw the nine-time world rally champion dominate SS6 to widen a small gap again to 3″4. From then on, Salanon will reduce the gap and hit hard in SS9 by beating Loeb by more than 16″.

“It was too bumpy for the Peugeot 306 Maxi in this special, I couldn't do better. » Loeb then admitted. Author of a final scratch in SS10, David Salanon leads the Rallye du Var this evening with a 16″7 lead over Loeb and 26″5 over Sylvain Michel (Skoda Fabia R5).

Hugo Margaillan follows in fourth position at 53″7, while the top 5 is completed by Yohan Rossel (Hyundai i20 R5). Romain Dumas (Porsche 911 GT3), 13th overall, remains solidly leader in the GT+ category.

Four stages remain to be contested tomorrow, Sunday, before the conclusion of this Rallye du Var.

Rallye du Var ranking after Stage 2