A car competition can influence people's destiny. rally du Condroz, for example, has had such an attraction for many young people from the Huy region that it has guided careers and determined lives. Stéphane Lhonnay is one of them.
"I was a huge fan of Robert Droogmans", our interlocutor remembers. "With Stéphane (Prévot, co-driver. Editor's note), we went to the club meetings which took place every Tuesday at the café run by Robert's wife. I even had the privilege of participating in a rally, as co-driver of my idol."
But it was above all at the wheel that Lhonnay distinguished himself for around twenty years. "I have often driven on tiny budgets, but I have some great memories. At Condroz 2010, I had a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 rented from Guy Colsoul (double Belgian Rally champion in 1979 and 1981. Editor's note) for €6, including €000 for the tires. Not only did I win the Group N title after a solid fight with Alexandre Romain, but I also finished in 4rd position overall. I jealously keep the photo of the podium where we are next to Freddy Loix on the top step and Thierry Neuville on the 2nd. »
In 2014, the Hutois had an unusual experience. "I was supposed to compete in my 20th Condroz. However, I broke my wrist a few days before the start. Yves Matton, then boss of Citroën Racing, asked me to be the opener, as co-driver, of Petter Solberg, invited by the organizers." A job that appealed to him and which he continued to do a decade later.
The Japanese challenge
A keen observer of the development of young drivers, Stéphane Lhonnay does not hide his admiration for Grégoire Munster, whose opener he has been since January 2019.
"I've been following him since his first steps. He has the speed, but he has also shown great maturity since his debut. He is also a driver who manages to unite the people around him. It is no coincidence that Jourdan Serderidis (see Ah n°2478) supports him assiduously. As for my role as opener, I have been practicing it for Munster since the first of his five Monte-Carlos. It is a terribly stressful role. At Condroz, we are confronted with three traps per special. At Monte-Carlo, we detect a trap every three bends.
As Munster play in the final of the WRC in Japan from November 21 to 24, the Lhonnay-Bronner tandem will discover its narrow route this weekend.
"Bruno Thiry (former Neuville opener. Editor's note) warned me: it's the most complicated track of all the asphalt rallies. Apparently, we're entitled to about twenty bends per kilometer. The roads are narrow and, like back home, it's autumn with fog, dead leaves, etc. Apparently you have to get up at 2 a.m. to work hard!"
A member of Grégoire Munster's close guard, Stéphane Lhonnay does not hide his irritation towards those who criticize him, based on a 10th place in the provisional championship.
"Certainly, our compatriot (who rides under a Luxembourg license. Editor's note) is 8 tenths per kilometer behind the best. I can assure you that visually, it is not visible. It means a tiny difference at each turn. Let's not forget that he is up against the six best drivers in the world, some of whom have taken time to reach their current level. Grégoire is a driver under construction. I hope he will be entitled to a second season at M-Sport. He fully deserves it."
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