Belgian Kris Princen is amassing quite a collection of titles from Renault Sport Technologies. Following the Clio R3 European Trophy in 2009 and the Clio R3 France Trophy last season, he is bringing home the 2012 Renault Sport Challenge at the wheel of his Clio RS R3 having scored the maximum number of points possible. And he again won the final event of the season in the Var, in front of Eric Mauffrey and Benoit Vaillant.

On roads which were for the most part dry, Kris Princen made the best start. The Belgian set the benchmark time in La Môle (SS1) completing the stage ahead of Benoit Vaillant, Bruno Riberi, Jérôme Chavanne, Olivier Courtois, Damien Tozlanian and Chris Ingram, winner of the 2012 Twingo R2 UK Trophy.

Throughout the first stage, Kris Princen ploughed on, irresistibly creating a gap back to the others. Setting all of the best times, he broke away from Benoit Vaillant, who finished in second place, and Olivier Courtois, in third, both at least one minute back from the leader. Jérôme Chavanne, Bruno Riberi, Damien Tozlanian and Chris Ingram, despite a penalty, followed in the classification upon their return to Sainte-Maxime.

On Saturday, the pattern was the same. Kris Princen continued to rack up the best times. Benoit Vaillant had to make do with second place while Jérôme Chavanne homed in on the third place occupied by Olivier Courtois.

Kris Princen’s extraordinary run ended in SS8. For the first time since the start, he was beaten to the finish by Benoit Vaillant.

Kris Princen quickly found his rhythm again at the end of the day to complete the second stage ahead, with more than two minutes’ lead over Benoit Vaillant and Olivier Courtois whereas Jérôme Chavanne did not finish SS9, having lost a wheel. Bruno Riberi, Chris Ingram and Damien Tozlanian also trailed.

The final stage only served to confirm the classification already established. Kris Princen was fastest again at the start of the day as SS11 was cancelled. Nothing changed during the long final special stage of the season. Kris Princen dominated while Benoit Vaillant and Olivier Courtois were the other drivers who made up the podium at the Rallye du Var.

Kris Princen: "I’m very happy to have dominated again. We have given it our all throughout the rally. This event has not been easy, especially at the start of the second stage. Sunday, we went with a tyre choice that was a little too hard but it went well in the end."

58th Rallye du Var
12 special stages, one cancelled
Best times: Kris Princen 10, Benoît Vaillant 1
Leader : SS1 to 12 (finish) Kris Princen.

Overall classification
1 PRINCEN Kris - EELBODE Bram (Renault Clio R3) 2:48:00:6
2 VAILLANT Benoît - MORIN Henri-Pierre (Renault Clio R3) +2:54:0
3 COURTOIS Olivier - BRONNER Kévin (Renault Clio R3) +3:43:9
4 RIBERI Bruno - HAUT LABOURDETTE Florian (Renault Clio R3) +5:06:8
5 INGRAM Chris - MC AULEY Stephen (Renault Clio R3) +12:02:9
6 TOZLANIAN Damien - ALPHAND Florine (Renault Clio R3) +15:51:0

Renault Sport Challenge
1 Kris Princen 125 points
2 Eric Mauffrey 97 points
3 Benoît Vaillant 75 points
4 Olivier Courtois 30 points
5 Damien Tozlanian 26 points
6 Jérôme Chavanne 15 points