Victory of an S2000 in France

As usual, the Rally of Rouergue Aveyron Midi-Pyrénées marked the end of the first half of the season in the French Rally Championship. 98 competitors were admitted to the start on Friday from Rodez after a spectacular presentation in the city center organized on Thursday evening.

Winner of the last two events contested, Patrick Henry (Peugeot 307WRC) got the best start by posting the first three best times on Friday. But a puncture in Salles Curan? Curan (SS4) deprived him of first position on the evening of the first stage.

These few seconds escaped benefited Guillaume Canivenq (Peugeot 207 Super 2000). The Aveyronnais returned to Rodez as leader and managed to contain the return of the 2007 French Champion during the first two special stages of the second stage. In Moyrazes? Colombies (SS7), Patrick Henry made a mistake and retired.

Guillaume Canivenq first had to resist Jean-Michel Da Cunha (Peugeot 307WRC), knocked offside by a straight shot at the end of the second day, then his teammate Jean-Sébastien Vigion (Peugeot 207 Super 2000).

Until the last loop, Jean-Sébastien Vigion put pressure on his teammate without being able to take the advantage and had to settle for second position behind Guillaume Canivenq (26 years old), winner at home 21 years after another Aveyron native Didier Auriol . It's a first double for the Peugeot 207 Super 2000s of Team Barroso Yacco. The podium was completed by another local, Jean-Michel Da Cunha.

These events benefited Emmanuel Guigou (Renault Clio R3). Untouchable in Group R despite the presence of Cédric Robert (Renault Clio R3), he finished in fourth place. This new full result allows Emmanuel Guigou to regain the lead of the French Championship ahead of Guillaume Canivenq and Jean-Sébastien Vigion.

Next meeting from September 4 to 6 on the special stages of the Rallye Mont-Blanc Morzine.