Gregory Buchholzer and Quentin Chailly's adventure in mainland France

You had been hoping for several seasons to be able to set up a Rally2 program, why the'to have done this year and that'What was the triggering event?

GB: In 2024, Sébastien Loeb came to Guadeloupe to participate in Rally of the Deep Sea and I admit that it inspired me… A few weeks later, I had the opportunity to participate in the Martinique Rally Tour with the Renault Following this rally and this meeting, my partners on both islands suggested I take things to the next level. Going to mainland France wasn't the initial plan, but after two podium finishes this year at the Grands Fonds and Martinique Rally Tour with the Citroën C3 Rally2, my partners once again encouraged me to go further: we shook hands and launched the "Var 2025" project.

QC: For me, it was a childhood dream to participate in a French Championship rally, and even more so in a Rally2 car; it was unexpected. We did quite a bit of driving this season with my co-driver Maxime, and a number of partners supported us in the adventure. Thanks to them, we were able to compete twice in mainland France, in addition to the Rallye des Grands Fonds, the big event in Guadeloupe.

Gregory, you condensed your preparation in mainland France into...'A two-week period, participating in the Rallye du Haut Pays Niçois just before the Var. Not too stressful timing?

GB: I thought it was going to be a fantastic November! The hills above Nice were more of a large-scale test session than anything else, so I didn't put any extra pressure on myself. The main objective of the weekend was to adapt to road profiles quite similar to those in the Var region, to adapt to the weather conditions, and to regain confidence behind the wheel after several months without driving.

For you, Quentin, there was a first rally in mainland France in March (Val de Boutonne) then the Final in Lisieux with the Citroën C3 Rally2…

QC: Let's just say Gregory was a bit smarter than us on that one (laughs). Joking aside, it's true that the two rallies I did gave me confidence because I didn't rack up that many kilometers. However, they were two very different rallies and not always ideal for preparing for the Var Rally.

Compared to the rallies in Guadeloupe that you have...'habit of participating, that'What struck you most in Metropolitan France?

GB: The temperature differences (laughs)! Joking aside, I'd say the entry lists, with many more cars than in our rallies, the overall level of competition both in the Haut Pays Niçois and in the Var region, on an even larger scale, and the organization of the rallies, which is generally much more sophisticated than ours… But for me, the hardest thing was the reconnaissance system: with only two passes when we knew nothing about the roads, it was very complicated…

QC: I agree with Greg. What surprised me most was obviously the entry lists: back home, we're used to having 30 to 35 cars, no more. At the Lisieux Final, there were 235 of us, then 180 at the Var, that's huge! Of course, I was also very impressed by the professionalism of both events, by the infrastructure… It's all very impressive to see.

You have both been able to count on the support of serious and reputable teams, do you think that helped you take a step forward in your driving?

GB: For my part, I placed my trust in Team Arc Auto Compétition and the Magnou family. And it's clear that working with them was a huge advantage. I learned a great deal, from car setup to a lot of technical terms. It's a professional team on a human scale, something I really appreciate, managed by drivers who are also outstanding mechanics. Added to all that is the contribution of Benjamin Veillas on my co-driver: all of this had a significant impact on the results.

QC: I would say that being supported by a good team is definitely a good sign for a successful start to a rally. Recently, through the Métropole (Metropolitan France), we've placed our trust in the De Sousa family and their team, A2S Compétition. A small team, certainly, but very professional while still maintaining a personal touch. We do rallying to experience thrilling human adventures, and that's precisely what we find with them; the team is just the right size for us.

Despite your two premature withdrawals from the Var, what do you take away from this experience?

GB: 95% positive. The rally is magnificent, the roads are extraordinary… but I'm still struggling to come to terms with our retirement in Collobrières on Saturday morning. Yet, I hadn't had any warning signs on the two previous runs through that corner. Nevertheless, we weren't too badly positioned, and the times we set were beyond expectations, even if, when I watch the onboard videos, I realize there's still a lot to learn! All of this motivates me to come back next year, because in one Rallye du Var, I learned more than in five Rallye des Grands Fonds or five Martinique Rally Tour events, given the amount of work involved in analyzing videos, doing reconnaissance…

QC: For my part, I'd say that the difficulty of the stages, combined with our lack of road time and mileage, made it hard to adapt. Nevertheless, the stages, the scenery, and the roads are magnificent. We learned a lot in the Var region, notably that our pace notes weren't precise enough, which gives us something to work on. We can, however, be quite modest in our satisfaction at having set a time in the Top 20 on a stage, competing against the regulars of the French Rally Championship.

Do you plan to return to mainland France next year?

GB: We are currently working on it, but logically, we should participate in the entire French Rally Championship next year. That's certainly what we are putting in place; we are doing what is necessary, and things are heading in the right direction at the moment.

QC: It's clear we're not going to stop now! We've already started looking for partners and targeting the rallies we'd like to do. The main objective remains our Rallye des Grands Fonds, which I'd love to win again, and of course, returning to mainland France, both on tarmac and gravel. If the budget allows, I'd also like to try and qualify for the French Rally Cup Final, which will take place in Remiremont, in the Vosges mountains.

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