The much anticipated mano-a-mano between Eric Mauffrey and Kris Princen fully lived up to expectations during the 55th Critérium des Cévennes. The Belgian now leads the way for the fourth time this season in the Renault Sport France Challenge and has one hand on the title.

After a lengthy liaison stage just shy of 100 kilometres, the Renault Sport France Challenge competitors were shown the green light on Friday morning. Dorian Nicolas crashed out after the first checkpoint. Kris Princen headed the leader board with a 10-second advantage over Eric Mauffrey and 17 seconds over Mathieu Biasion.

In driving rain, Kris Princen continued to stretch his lead thanks to a better choice of tyre. Despite a scratch for Eric Mauffrey in SS3, the Belgian completed the first 52-kilometre timed loop with an advantage of more than 40 seconds over Eric Mauffrey, with Mathieu Biasion trailing by almost two minutes.

More relaxed at night, Eric Mauffrey came in ahead of the leader three times whereas Mathieu Biasion handed in his pace notes. However, Kris Princen retained the overall advantage by completing the stage with a 32.6s advantage over Eric Mauffrey.

The second stage served merely to confirm the classification. Princen and Mauffrey shared the best times: the two passes in the seven-kilometre short special stage went to the man from the Vosges and the passes from the long, timed 42-kilometre stage to the Belgian.

At the arrivée, Kris Princen stamped his authority with a 38.3s advantage over Eric Mauffrey. The Belgian thus took back the top spot in the Renault Sport France Challenge with 100 points compared to Eric Mauffrey’s 97. However, with the worst result being disregarded, Princen’s advantage is more clear-cut. The final will unfold in the Var at the end of November.

Kris Princen: “I am truly satisfied as this is one of the most challenging rallies of the championship. With these conditions, it has been even more difficult. I couldn’t afford to make a single mistake and had to drive as quickly as possible to the very end as Eric was also hunting me down.”

Eric Mauffrey: “My tyre choice mistake from the first stage cost me dearly. We had to gamble on the ‘full wets’. As a result, I posted decent times, comparable to those Kris was clocking, sometimes even better. I enjoy these difficult tests, even if we had extreme conditions.”

55th Critérium des Cévennes – Renault Sport France Challenge
Best times: Kris Princen and Eric Mauffrey, 6 apiece
Leader: SS1 to 12 (arrivée) Kris Princen

Classification
1. Kris Princen/Bram Eelbode (Clio R.S. R3)
2. Eric Mauffrey/Gaetan Houssin (Clio R.S. R3) +38’’3

Renault Sport France Challenge (5/6)
1. Kris Princen 100 points
2. Eric Mauffrey 97 points
3. Benoit Vaillant 57 points…