Historic victory for Nicolas Ciamin at the Antibes Rally

This weekend around Antibes, there was Nicolas Ciamin (A110-Code Racing) and the others. And when the others are called Yoann Bonato (C3 Rally2-CHL Sport Auto), Eric Camilli (C3 Rally2-PH Sport by Minerva Oil) or Quentin Giordano (Polo GTI R5-Sarrazin Motorsport), we measure the scope of the feat of young Code Racing driver at the wheel of his propulsion.

He signed his second victory in the French Championship after the Rally du Touquet 2019. “I would like to thank the entire Code Racing team and everyone who supported me in taking part in this home rally, highlights the winner of the 2021 Antibes Côte d’Azur Rally. It's fantastic ! I would particularly like to thank Maxime Martini, my co-driver, who changed his plans at the last minute to start the rally alongside me. I hope I can come back, if an opportunity arises I will come back. » In addition to his victory in the general classification, Ciamin also climbed to the top of the podium in two-wheel drive.

Eric Camilli took victory in the last SS of the day and took second place: “I wanted to finish first in Rally2, I couldn't go and pick up Nicolas Ciamin,” notes the driver who will be at the start of the Rallye de Catalonia next week.

Yoann Bonato climbs onto the third step of the podium and achieves a good performance in the provisional classification of the French Championship: “Our main objective was to finish the rally in front of Quentin, we achieved it, it's a good performance for the Championship. »

Absent from the podium for the first time this season, Quentin Giordano, fourth, nevertheless consoles himself with a sixth consecutive victory in the Michelin “R5” Trophy: “It’s a satisfactory result, we have been on the right pace since the start of the season. We will try to continue this momentum in the next events. I congratulate “Nico” and his team – Code Racing –, they deserve this victory, they are good guys, well done to them! »

The Alpine A110 particularly shone on the Alpes Maritimes specials. Cédric Robert (A110-Bonneton HDG) completes the final Top 5. The Stéphanois, winner of the Michelin “Hors R5” Trophy, is ahead of the two strong men of the Trophy Alpine Elf Rally. Back at the wheel of the beautiful Normande since his 2nd place in Monte-Carlo in R-GT, Raphaël Astier, sixth overall, went for victory in the Trophy ahead of Julien Saunier (A110-Sébastien Loeb Racing Bardahl), seventh in the final standings. “The fight was intense against Julien, I took risks,” admits Astier before getting on the podium.

Thirteenth in the general classification Anthony Fotia (Clio Rally4) had a good race and won the virtual classification of “traction” cars.

Sarah Rumeau (208 Rally4) and Pauline Dalmasso (208 Rally4-Pit Stop) fought during both days. Rumeau finally had the last word and took his second victory of the season after his success at the Rallye du Mont-Blanc.

In VHC, Philip Giordanengo (Ford Escort RS 1800 MKII) dominated the rally from start to finish to take his first victory in Antibes and the 18th of his career. The Escort driver is ahead of Jean-Pierre Gatti (BMW M3 E30) and Alain Bourdais (Renault 11 Turbo).

French Rally Championship ranking: 1. Y. Bonato 119 pts, 2. Q. Giordano 112, 3. E. Camilli 97, 4. C. Robert 64, 5. Wagner 57…