Berard, Pitot and Lafont book Renault Clio R3T drives at the Rallye du Var

Comprising ten events forming part of the French Rally Cup calendar, an exciting Renault Sport Challenge season came to an end at the Rallye National Vosgien, with Pascal and Caroline Berard clinching the R3/N4 class title to join respective overall R2 and R1 winners William Pitot and Aurelien Lafont as the champions for 2014. The three drivers will be rewarded with drives in the Renault Clio R3T at the Rallye du Var in November.

Having slipped down to second in the R3/N4 standings after going off in the Rallye du Pays de Saint Yrieix, Mickael Reydellet and Thomas Chauffray arrived in the Vosges knowing exactly what they had to do to win the title. Making a strong start, they stood second in the class after the first special and kept the pace up for the rest of the day and into day two, staying firmly in the hunt for big points, with championship rivals Pascal and Caroline Berard running in sixth behind them.

After slipping down to third, Mickael Reydellet and Thomas Chauffray then saw their challenge come to an end when they went off on SS6, leaving Pascal and Caroline Berard to claim the title. With the pressure off, the champions cruised home in fifth place, a result that did not figure among their six best for the season and did not, therefore, count to their overall points total. Taking sixth place behind them were Damien Stempfle and Aurelien Barthelemy.

In the R2 class, meanwhile, Franck Gravier and Muriel Bernardin were quick to show in a high-class field, moving into second place, just a few tenths behind the class leaders. Posting consistently fast times, they figured in the top three in every special and even made the overall top three in SS4, eventually securing second place in the class and well-deserved points.

Already assured of the Renault Sport Challenge R1 crown and partnered on this occasion by Sabrina Guillaume, Aurelien Lafont was full of confidence as he took to the start line. Taking the lead on SS1, he extended his advantage on day two before running off on SS8, not that his retirement put the dampers on a victorious campaign in which appeared in all ten rounds of the Renault Sport Challenge.

As reward for winning the three titles on offer this season, Pascal Berard, William Pitot and Aurelien Lafont will all take part in the Rallye du Var on 28-30 November, where they will be driving the Renault Clio R3T and will have the full support of the Renault Sport Technologies team.

Rallye National Vosgien standings
R3/N4 class
5. Pascal Bérard – Caroline Bérard (Renault Clio R.S. R3) 1:16:39.7
6. Damien Stempflé – Aurélien Barthélémy (Renault Clio R.S. R3) 1:17:56.1

R2 class (Renault Twingo R.S. R2)
2. Franck Gravier – Muriel Bernardin 1:17:48.5

Renault Sport Challenge standings after the Rallye National Vosgien *
R3/N4 class
1. Pascal Bérard 94 points (15 + 15 + absent + 12 + 15 + absent + 12 +12 + 25 + 10)
2. Mickaël Reydellet 85 points (12 + absent + ab. + 15 + ab. + 15 + 25 +18 + ab. + ab.)
3. Laurent Lacomy 69 points (8 + 25 + 18 + ab. + 18 + ab. + absent + ab. + absent) …

R2 class
1. William Pitot 113 points (15 + 18 + 15 + 15 + absent + ab. + 25 + 25 + 12,5 + absent)
2. Georges Gonon 86 points (18 + 25 + absent + 25 + ab. + absent + 18 + abandon + absent + absent)
3. Jordan Mottard 56 points (ab. + 15 + ab. + 18 + ab. + 8 + 15 + absent + absent + absent)
4. Marvin Sorin 44,5 points (absent + 12 + 25 + absent + ab. + ab.+ absent + ab. + 7,5 + absent) …

R1 class
1. Aurélien Lafont 124 points (ab. + exclu + ab. + 25 + 15 +25 + 25 + 25 + 9 + ab.)
2. Romain Auvert 93,5 points (25 + 0 + 12+ absent + 8 + absent + 18 +18 + 12,5)
3. Antoine Margely 83 points (absent + absent + 25 + 18 +25 + ab. + 15 + ab. + absent)
4. Nicolas Renchet 71 points (18 + 25 + absent + ab. + absent + 18 + 10 + absent + absent)
5. Théo Chalal 67 points (12 + 10 + 18 + absent + ab. + 15 + 12 + absent + absent) …

* Only six best results

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