Rallye Montbrisonnais – The patient Clairet

Favorite at the start of the event, Salanon took the first two scratches. At the end of the first stage, he was 33'' ahead of Clairet, 46'' over Greiffenberg and 52'' over Ginhoux who was debuting his new mount (Skoda Fabia R5).

The next day, the Salanon festival continued with five new scratches, leaving the only ES 8 in Greiffenberg (Citroen DS 3 R5) which came out in the next one. Before the last time, Salanon had 2'53'' when the Ford Fiesta's mechanics jammed, causing the crew to retire in the final time.

Clairet therefore won ahead of Ginhoux, who took the R group. On a 208 R2, Monnin completed the podium by only 2'' ahead of Laffont, dispossessed of this 3rd step in the final time trial. In group N, total supremacy for Chabanas who scored six scratches to win with a 50'' lead over Garin (Clio Ragnotti).

With a group F2000, Gaillet (BMW 318 Compact) took the lead from the first stage but had to retire due to mechanical problems after SS 5. Faye (Clio) took over until SS 7 but also had to retire just before the 'final timer.

La victoire revenait à Olivier qui prenait aussi place dans le Top 5 au scratch. À noter, dans le Groupe GT, une nouvelle victoire de Massacrier qui prenait la tête et s’imposait après l’abandon de Clement (Porsche GT3) sur problème mécanique après les deux premiers chronos.

F. Lombard

Ranking: 1. Clairet-Blanc (Peugeot 306 Max) 1h17'57'' (1st Gr. A), 2. Ginhoux-Moulin (Skoda Fabia R5) at 33'' (1st Gr. R), 3. Monnin-Choudey (208) at 3'00'', 4. Laffont-Duchampt (207) at 3'02' ', 5. Olivier-François (206) at 3'16'' (1st Gr. F2000), 6. Blanc-Blanc (Citroën C2 R2) at 3'42'', 7. Couvreur-Luce (106) at 3 '51'', 8. De la Cellery-Grandpiere (106) at 4'06'', 9. Clavelloux-Grandpierre (Saxo) at 4'06'', 10. Leveque-Lebretton (106) at 4'25'' '), … 19. Chabanas-Chabanas (Clio Ragnotti) at 6'57'' (1st Gr. N), … 55. Massacrier-Matoug (Nissan 350 Z) at 11'18'' (1st Gr. GT), etc