The Renault Sport Challenge, which is open to Clio Renaultsport R3s and Megane Renaultsport N4s, made its debut as part of the Rallye du Touquet – the first round of the French Rally Championship. All four competitors lined up for this first event in Renault Clio Renaultsport R3s, with Princen and Mauffrey the men to beat.

The battle between Princen and Mauffrey was intense right from the first stage, with the Belgian leading his French rival by just half a second. However, Princen soon turned his performance up a notch and went on to set a string of fastest times before the end of the evening.

Paternot also made a very bright start to the event, snatching second place from Mauffrey at the end of stage three. But after hitting shock absorber problems on Friday evening, the Frenchman lost more than 40 seconds in stage five to hand the initiative back to Mauffrey. Meanwhile, Benoit Vaillant, who at 20 is the youngest driver in the Challenge, brought up the rear as he continued his learning curve in the discipline.

Princen, who won the Clio R3 European Trophy in 2009 and the Clio R3 Trophy France in 2011, continued in the same positive vein on Saturday, clocking all the fastest times until stage 13. Mauffrey did manage to outperform Princen in the penultimate stage. But the Belgian held firm to win by 1:49 from Mauffrey, 6:15.3 ahead of Paternot and 9:17.5 in front of Vaillant.

The next Renault Sport Challenge event will take place as part of the Rallye du Limousin, which runs from 18-20 May.

Rallye Le Touquet – Pas-de-Calais – Renault Sport Challenge 1. Princen/Eelbode 2:09:25.9; 2. Mauffrey/Houssin +1:49.0; 3. Paternot/Combe +6:15.3; 4. Vaillant/Morin +9:17.5

Overall standings 1. Kris Princen 25 pts; 2. Eric Mauffrey 18 pts; 3. Hervé Paternot 15 pts; 4. Benoit Vaillant 12 pts