Fourmaux dominates Solberg in Dévoluy

The festivities were wonderful last weekend in La Joue du Loup where the Rally The Dévoluy Winter Rally, 10th edition of the event. A "small" rally that has grown significantly over the years, thanks to its immediate geographical proximity to some timed sections of the Monte Carlo Rally, the event has established itself for several years as a full-scale test session before the first round of the World Rally Championship, and the factory teams have clearly understood this. Therefore, Toyota et Hyundai were present with their GR Yaris Rally1 and i20N Rally1, driven by Oliver Solberg and by Adrien fourmauxA unique opportunity for the many spectators present to get closer than ever to these monsters of power and efficiency, as well as some of the world's best rally drivers. Also not to be forgotten was the presence of Hyundai's new official driver. WRCHayden Paddon, competing in a Rally2 car, aimed to gather as much information as possible about grip changes and ice conditions. He will be returning to Monte Carlo next January, nine years after his last appearance at the event, an event marred by the tragic accident that claimed the life of a spectator, in which he was unwittingly involved. Other drivers to watch were also at the start, including Mattéo Chatillon, Jonathan Hirschi, and Filip Kohn.

Dévoluy, WRC territory?

Defending champions Adrien Fourmaux and Alexandre Coria, already facing a Toyota – that of Kalle Rovanperä – wasted no time in demonstrating their ambitions, securing three fastest stage times in the first four stages of the rally. Holding a 22,7-second lead over Oliver Solberg at the end of the first leg, the French duo could see things differently for the rest of the race. Particularly comfortable in the Mère-Église stage, the Swede nevertheless came alive on Sunday, setting the fastest time in both runs of this timed section, then a third fastest time in the final stage at Saint-Etienne-en-Dévoluy to maintain the pressure on the driver who was also recently confirmed as a Hyundai driver for 2026. It's worth noting that the two drivers were tied to the tenth of a second in both runs of the Gillardes stage, the setting for the first stage of Sunday's loops, each posting the exact same time on both occasions. In the end, Fourmaux won with a 14,7 second lead over Solberg, the latter having considerably reduced the gap per kilometer as the rally progressed.

It's difficult, if not impossible, to compare Hayden Paddon's race to those of his counterparts in the top category. Despite not having the same car, the Kiwi driver still managed to secure third place, 45,8 seconds ahead of his Rally2 runner-up, Mattéo Chatillon, the Frenchman who is planning a WRC2 season for 2026. The top five was completed by local driver Damien Oberti, at the wheel of a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2.

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