Contested over a single day, but a long and demanding one nonetheless, the Rallye du Pays de Dieppe posed something of an endurance test for the crews taking part. Featuring three special stages and a total of 11 timed sections, the event gave competitors every chance to up the pace throughout the course of the day. This year’s the Rallye du Pays de Dieppe proved to be too tough for many, however, with over 40 cars being forced to retire.

Mickael Reydellet (Renault Clio R.S. R3) made the fastest of starts in the R3/N4 class and lay second overall after three specials, ahead of two WRC cars. Sadly for him, mechanical troubles brought his race to an early end in SS4, while Jerome Chavanne, who led the Challenge standings going into the event, crashed out. Taking over at the front was Laurent Lacomy (Renault Megane R.S. N4), with Anthony Cosson (Renault Megane R.S. N4) pushing hard behind him.

The former Echappement Rising Star jumped into the class lead on SS7 and stayed there till the end. Setting a consistent pace, he came home first from Laurent Lacomy and fellow Renault Megane R.S. N4 driver Sylvain Fouteret, with Steven Rousseau fourth in the class in his Renault Clio R.S. R3. The quartet also came third, fourth, fifth and seventh respectively in the overall standings, a reflection of the competitiveness of the Megane, which only the two WRC cars could outpace.

Over in the R2 class, meanwhile, Jonathan Fra sprinted into the lead on SS4, though Marvin Sorin did not let him out of his sights. Pressing for his first Challenge win, Sorin jumped into the lead in the second half of the day, with Fra’s bid for victory coming to an end when he went off in the final special. William Pitot took third place in the class, while Jordan Mottard retired in the final section after running in fifth for much of the day.

Maxime Goetz led the way in the R1 class after SS1, though he was promptly replaced by Antoine Margely in SS2, who then consolidated his position with a string of fastest times. Margely eventually come home an emphatic winner ahead of Theo Chalal, who continued his fine start to the season, and Alexandre Cosson, taking his place on the R1 podium in his maiden Challenge appearance, with Romain Auvert fourth. After making an excellent getaway, Maxime Goetz’s rally was ended by mechanical problems, as was Eric Sauteur’s, while Aurelien Lafont’s bad luck continued when he crashed out on SS2.

Rallye du Pays de Dieppe: Renault Sport Challenge results

R3/N4 class
1. Anthony Cosson/Anne-Sophie Nourry (Renault Megane R.S. N4): +3:37.3
2. Laurent Lacomy/Sebastien Mattei (Renault Megane R.S. N4): +29.5
3. Sylvain Fouteret/Laurent Chenet (Renault Megane R.S.N4): +42.3
4. Steve Rousseau/Mathieu Opsomer (Renault Clio R.S.R3): +1:58.8

R2 class
1. Marvin Sorin/Karine Moinet (Renault Twingo R.S.R2): 1:33:20.6
3. William Pitot/Alexis Estival (Renault Twingo R.S.R2): +1:48.2

R1 class
1. Antoine Margely-Francois/Xavier Delabarre (Renault Twingo R.S.R1): +1:38:35.1
2. Theo Chalal/Kelly Cotornini (Renault Twingo R.S.R1): +36.0
3. Alexandre Cosson/Matthieu Chartier (Renault Twingo R.S.R1): +1 :45.9
4. Romain Auvert/Maxime Belivier (Renault Twingo R.S.R1): +3:55.3
7. Matthieu Tarif/Wilfrid Tarif (Renault Twingo R.S.R1): +7:09.0

Renault Sport Challenge standings after the Rallye du Pays de Dieppe (3/10)

R3/N4 class
1. Laurent Lacomy, 51 points (8, 25, 18)
2. Jerome Chavanne, 36 (18, 18, DNC*)
3. Pascal Berard, 30 (15, 15, DNC)
4. Anthony Cosson, 25 (DNC, DNC, 25)
4. Boris Carminati, 25 (25, DNC, DNC)

R2 class
1. William Pitot, 48 points (15, 18, 15)
2. Georges Gonon, 43 (18, 25, DNC)
3. Marvin Sorin, 37 (DNC, 12, 25)

R1 class
1. Nicolas Renchet, 43 points (18, 25, DNC)
2. Theo Chalal, 40 (12, 10, 18)
3. Romain Auvert, 37 (25, 0, 12)
4. Antoine Margely, 25 (DNC, DNC, 25)

* Did not compete