Terres des Causses – Franceschi returns as leader

Stung in the afternoon with a "straight" in SS4, Matthieu Margaillan (Fabia Rally2 evo) rectified the situation in the following SS with a scratch time.

The last special stage of the day (SS 6) looked decisive with the arrival of violent showers. Margaillan then conceded more than 45 seconds, lost control of the rally and his place on the provisional podium.

Fourth on the road, Jean-Baptiste Franceschi (Fabia Rally2 evo) took the scratch in the 23,87 km of a special that became hell for the leaders. The 2020 French Gravel Rally Champion took the opportunity to take the lead with less than 10 seconds ahead of Florent Todeschini (i20 N Rally2).

For his return to the gravel championship, Thibault Durbec (Fabia R5) grabbed the provisional podium, just ahead of Matthieu Margaillan, determined to take advantage of the second stage to move up the hierarchy.

Benjamin Clémençon (Polo GTI R5) found himself alone in fifth place. 

On Sunday, a loop of two special stages, to be completed twice, will determine the final podium of the 26th edition of Terre des Causses.

The provisional Top 15 of the first stage