The French enter WRC3

When the entry list of crews aiming for the JWRC was revealed, it was both surprising and disappointing to see that no Frenchman would be a candidate for the title. On the other hand, they are more attracted by WRC3. This competition, open to Rally3s, runs throughout the year. Drivers must compete in a maximum of 6 rounds and their 5 best results will be used to determine the champion.

Last year, the Finn Roope Korhonen was crowned with 4 victories in 4 participations. The crown should be more contested this year, in particular because several Juniors like Romet Jürgenson, Eamonn Kelly or Tom Rensonnet can also claim it. On the Tricolore side, there should be 4 coming regularly.

Driving a Clio Rally3 since the end of last season, Ghjuvanni Red scored his first points in Monte-Carlo. At the wheel of a car followed by the Chazel team, the 23-year-old driver ranked 2^e behind the experienced Jan Cerny. Rossi has planned other rounds (Portugal, Chile, Japan and perhaps Central Europe and depending on the results) in order to give himself every chance. He will be faced with boys who have already shone in France.

Winner of the Jean Ragnotti Power Stage Trophy and best Junior in the Clio Trophy last year, Mattéo Chatillon should compete in 4 races in WRC with a Clio Rally3. At the wheel of this car, he performed well in Rally3 during Monte-Carlo where he lost victory in the final special. Recently, he established himself in rally National de la Vienne in front of Rally2 demonstrating his ease with this Renault. " We are targeting WRC3 with the objective of winning the world title by next year to continue our rise, explains the Châtellerault pilot. We have already competed in Monte-Carlo with the ARL Sport technical team and the valuable advice of Patrick Magaud. We will continue with Croatia, Portugal, Sardinia, possibly Finland, before ending with the Acropolis or Central Europe. »

Tom Pieri has also already demonstrated his ability to adapt to the Clio Rally3 by winning his category at the 2023 Antibes rally. Winner of the Junior in the 2022 Clio Trophy, the 25-year-old from Marseillais will discover the world championship. With his Clio Rally3, he will be at the start of Portugal, Sardinia and Finland.

The only Frenchman not to race in a Clio, Tristan Charpentier is also the one of the 4 who has the least experience with around fifteen races to his credit (13^e of the Cévennes 2023). At 23, he still came across Bernard Piallat from PH-Sport and Stéphane Sarrazin who couldn't have been bad advice! The Béthunois will attempt the adventure of the world championship. With his Ford Fiesta Rally3, he plans to compete in Croatia, Portugal, Poland and Central Europe.

Tristan Charppentier will be the only Frenchman to race in a Ford Fiesta Rally3 (Photo: Tristan Charpentier)

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