Lozère Rally – Eric Rousset without trembling

5 years after his 2017 victory, Eric Rousset wins the Rally from Lozère.

Large leader at the end of the first stage, Eric Rousset was not yet finished with 3 loops of 2 special stages remaining to go. Short but new specials! Romain Dumas put on the warm-up blue and made the powder speak in the first loop by winning the 2 special stages.

Jeremie Turco winner of the 4-wheel drive category of the Michelin Rallye tour © Anthony Segaud

Malheureusement le pilote de la Porsche devait renoncer sur casse mécanique dans la liaison pour la seconde boucle… Eric Rousset et son copilote Christophe Sauce n’avaient plus qu’à dérouler jusqu’à l’arrivée en gérant leur avance sur leurs plus proches poursuivants Jérémie Turco et Damien Borne. Mais il ne fallait pas se déconcentrer et le duo mettait un point d’honneur à remporter les 2 spéciales de la seconde boucle. Le rallye prenait alors un léger retard (le premier du week-end, il faut le souligner) à cause d’un accident et l’avant dernière spéciale qui était annulée.

Kevin Constanty in the Top 5 © Anthony Segaud

Eric Rousset and Christophe Sauce did not tremble in the last ES which they won, a final scratch synonymous with the highlight of the show for this great success! Eric Rousset equals the record of 3 victories at the Rallye de Lozère held by Thierry Costeraste. Behind them, the Turco-Borne duo confirms their excellent start to the season while the Escudero-Belhacene pair climbs to the third step of the podium

Jeremie Turco and Damien Borne win the 4-wheel drive classification of the Michelin Rallye Tour, followed by Nicolas Liron and Mathieu Morin who perform miracles with their valiant Peugeot 207 S2000. Moved up to 9th place in the general classification, Patrick Benne and Antoine Serres won the 2-wheel drive category.

Michelin Rallye Tour news on the CEERTA website

Final ranking Rally de Lozère

1. Rousset-Sauce (Citroen C4 WRC) 1h19’20’’3 (1^er Gr.FRC1), 2. Turco-Borne (Skoda Fabia) at 3'06''1 (1^er Gr.FRC2), 3. Escudero-Belhacene (Skoda Fabia) at 3'41''7, 4. Serieys-Crespin (Clio R3) at 4'52''6 (1^er Gr.FRC4), 5. Constanty-Bonicel (Citroën C3) at 5'06''1, 6. Liron-Maurin (207 S2000) at 5'37''1, 7. Fassio-Eustaquio (Alpine A110 R-GT) at 5'38''1 (1^er Gr.FRGT), 8. Baroni-Magnier (Ford Fiesta) at 7'29''4, 9. Benne-Serres (Peugeot 208 Rally4) at 7'35''5, 10. Vivens-Triaire (Citroën DS3 R3T) at 7'44''2… 13. Jacques-Caminada (BMW 318 Compact) at 9'05''8… 19. Rouquette-Mercier (Renault Clio RC5) at 11'13''5…