The Renault Sport Challenge continues its tour of France this weekend, stopping off in the southern town of Mazamet for the Rallye Montagne Noire. Now in its 35th year, the event is a major date on the French rally calendar and will be held over two days, with two night-time specials taking place on Friday and nine timed sections on Saturday. The rally comes to a close in Mazamet at 19:15 on Saturday evening.

The battle for honours in the R1 class promises to be intense, with the top five drivers in the standings all taking part, an indication of just how important this latest round of the season is. Points leaders, with two wins to their names, Antoine Margely and Lea Pustelnik will be out to bounce back after their retirement in the last round, the Rallye Bourgogne Côte Chalonnaise. Two crews aiming to stop them and keep the pressure on in the standings are Aurelien Lafont/Aurelien Verdenet and Nicolas Renchet/Tom Fitzgerald, who took first and second place respectively in Burgundy. Theo Chalal and Sarah Mancini lie fourth overall and will be intent on maintaining their consistent form. Also in contention will be Romain Auvert and Maxime Belivier, who won on debut last year and have their sights set on returning to the podium this weekend.

Among the other crews looking to shine in the Midi sun are Dorian Delagne and Romain Garel, who finished runners up in Brittany in late June, while fellow dark horses Emilien Sanlaville and Arnaud Cubizolles, who lie sixth in the points, will be out to add to their record of three top-four finishes. Pierre Vernet and Justine Camaly also have designs on a podium place after finishing in the top three at the Rallye National du Gard.

R2 class frontrunners Georges and Valerie Gonon will also be on duty at the Rallye Montagne Noire. Having collected two wins and a second place so far this season, they are well placed to take the title, though William Pitot and Alexis Estival, who have chalked up four top-three finishes, are breathing down their necks. Though both crews will be fighting to take the upper hand in the overall standings, Jordan Mottard and Leo Occhipinti could well have a say in proceedings.

After missing out on the chance to consolidate their overall lead in the R3/N4 class in Burgundy, Laurent Lacomy and Sebastien Mattei are hoping to get it right in round seven of the Renault Sport Challenge, though they can expect some stiff competition from Pascal and Caroline Berard and Mickael Reydellet and Thomas Chauffray, the two crews right behind them in the standings. Having finished in the top four in every one of their appearances this season, Pascal and Caroline Berard are also within touching distance of the championship lead, while Mickael Reydellet and Thomas Chauffray also have the chance of closing up on the leaders.

Completing the R3/N4 field are Michel Reboul and Charlene Denizou, who will be looking to put their Megane R.S. N4 on the class podium, and Benoit and Gautier Bessiere, Ludovic Marigo/Romain Vergnes and Benjamin Villaret/Sophie Entz, who will all be in Renault Clio R.S. R3s.

Schedule
Friday 25 july
21h18 : SS1 – Sorèze (16,54 km)
22h01 : SS2 – Pas du Sant (11,13 km)

Saturday 26 july
9h38 : SS3 – Fontbruno (14,37 km)
10h26 : SS4 – La Loubatière (9,85 km)
11h04 : SS5 – Latourette (16,72 km)
13h27 : SS6 – Fontbruno (14,37 km)
14h15 : SS7 – La Loubatière (9,85 km)
14h53 : SS8 – Latourette (16,72 km)
17h16 : SS9 – Fontbruno (14,37 km)
17h54 : SS10 – La Loubatière (9,85 km)
18h32 : SS11 – Latourette (16,72 km)

Entry list - Montagne Noire
R3/N4 class
17. Michel Reboul – Charlène Denizou (Renault Mégane R.S. N4)
18. Laurent Lacomy – Sébastien Mattéi (Renault Mégane R.S. N4)
19. Pascal Bérard – Caroline Bérard (Renault Clio R.S. R3)
20. Mickaël Reydellet – Thomas Chauffray (Renault Clio R.S. R3)
21. Benoit Bessière – Gautier Bessière (Renault Clio R.S. R3)
22. Ludovic Marigo – Romain Vergnes (Renault Clio R.S. R3)
23. Benjamin Villaret – Sophie Entz (Renault Clio R.S. R3)

R2 class (Renault Twingo R.S. R2)
42. Georges Gonon – Valérie Gonon
43. William Pitot – Alexis Estival
44. Jordan Mottard – Léo Occhipinti

R1 class (Renault Twingo R.S. R1)
87. Antoine Margely – Léa Pustelnik
88. Aurélien Lafont – Aurélien Verdenet
89. Nicolas Renchet – Tom Fitzerald
90. Théo Chalal – Sarah Mancini
91. Romain Auvert – Maxime Bélivier
92. Emilien Sanlaville – Arnaud Cubizolles
93. Dorian Delagne – Romain Garel
94. Pierre Vernet – Justine Camaly

Renault Sport Challenge standings
R3/N4 class
1. Laurent Lacomy 69 points
2. Pascal Bérard 57 points
3. Mickaël Reydellet 42 points
4. Jérôme Chavanne 36 points
5. Boris Carminati 25 points
5. Anthony Cosson 25 points …

R2 class
1. Georges Gonon 68 points
2. William Pitot 63 points
3. Jordan Mottard 41 points
4. Marvin Sorin 37 points …

R1 class
1. Antoine Margely 68 points
2. Aurélien Lafont 65 points
3. Nicolas Renchet 61 points
4. Théo Chalal 55 points
5. Romain Auvert 45 points
6. Emilien Sanlaville 39 points …