Lucas Darmezin in CFR driving a Hyundai i20N Rally2

Six months ago, almost to the day, we were still far from being able to guarantee Lucas Darmezin's participation in the 2026 French Asphalt Rally Championship. He was the victim of a very serious crash on the descent from Avoriaz during the last Rally Mont-Blanc Morzine, the young man had obviously had to end his season, but also and above all, begin long months of rehabilitation to heal the vertebra he fractured in the impact. So here's a new challenge to get the Savoyard back on track. Still supported by Igol, Lucas Darmezin will compete this season in the French Rally Championship with a new car, the Hyundai The i20N Rally2 Step 2, a new co-driver in Charlyne Quartini replacing Valentin Augé, and a new team structure, set up by his family, replacing PH Sport which hosted him last year as a Stellantis Motorsport driver. Is that enough to put him back among the outsiders, if not the favorites, of the 2026 CFR?

For the moment, there is little confirmation regarding the CFR.

It's still unclear exactly who will be driving where in the 2026 French Rally Championship. But it seems obvious that he won't be the only one competing in a Hyundai. The coming days should shed more light on the situation, as the French Rally Championship kicks off at the end of March in Le Touquet, an unusual date due to the municipal elections. Lucas Darmezin has already had the chance to get behind the wheel of his new car, just as he was able to drive with his new co-driver a few days ago at the Ronde del Canavese in Italy, where they finished in second place. Now, the third-best performer in the 2023 French Rally Cup Final must put this 2025 season, which he himself describes as the worst of his career, behind him and prove that he can establish himself as a long-term fixture in the French Rally Championship.

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