The Renault Sport Challenge continue to consolidate its position as part of the French Rally Cup season, with 19 crews lining up to take part in Le Gard. In this the fourth event on the 2014 Challenge schedule, there is plenty to motivate the competitors in each of the three classes – R3/N4, R2 and R1 – with Renault Sport drivers having claimed eight out of a possible nine victories so far this year.

Based in Bessèges, the Rallye National du Gard will see a number of drivers fight it out in the R3/N4 class. Absent from the last two rounds, Boris Carminati is back at the wheel of the Clio R.S. R3, the car he drove to victory in the season-opening Rallye Pays du Gier. Tied for fourth in the R3/N4 standings, he faces some stiff competition from the three drivers above him: Pascal Berard, Jerome Chavanne and Laurent Lacomy. Victorious in Grasse, points leader Lacomy has competed in every round of the Challenge so far.

Bertrand Latour also has his sights set on a class win in the Megane R.S. N4, with the list of entrants being rounded off by Mickael Reydellet, Dorian Nicolas, Eric Perier and Thierry Dubois, all of whom will be driving the Clio R.S. R3.

Gunning for the honours in the R2 class in Le Gard will be some Challenge regulars. Georges Gonon sat out Dieppe but won in Grasse and is now targeting the top of the standings, a position currently occupied by William Pitot. An ever-present this year, Pitot has finished on the podium in each round to date but has yet to claim a win. Also pushing for maximum points will be Sylvain Canut and Jordan Mottard.

The competition should also be intense in the R1 class, with six drivers having entered. Still the points leader despite his absence in Dieppe, Nicolas Renchet is hoping to extend his advantage at the top, though Antoine Margely will have designs on victory himself, having opened his Renault Sport Challenge account with a win in Normandy.

Short of luck so far this year but impressive nevertheless, Emilien Sanlaville and Aurelien Lafont will look to turn potential into points in the Twingo R.S. R1, while Maxime Goetz and Pierre Vernet also have what it takes to fight for a place on the R1 podium.

The schedule for Le Rallye National du Gard is hectic, with ten special stages taking place in the space of a little over 24 hours and a service park being set up for the cars at the Pole Mécanique d’Alès complex on day one. Comprising 140 kilometres of specials in all, the rally comes to a close with the awards ceremony at 17:30 on Sunday.

Rallye National du Gard schedule:
Saturday 31 May
13:30: SS1, La Favède–Le Grand Valat (13.5 km)
14:07: SS2, Ste Cécile d’Andorge–La Tavernole (9.5 km)
16:47: SS3, La Favède–Le Grand Valat (13.5 km)
17:24: SS4, Ste Cécile d’Andorge–La Tavernole (9.5 km)

Sunday 1 June
8:26: SS5, Banne–Bordezac (9.8 km)
8:48: SS6, Aujac–Quatre Chemins (21.5 km)
11:20: SS7, Banne–Bordezac (9.8 km)
11:42: SS8, Aujac–Quatre Chemins (21.5 km)
14:36: SS9, Banne–Bordezac (9.8 km)
15:35: SS10, Aujac–Quatre Chemins (21.5 km)

Entrants
R3/N4 class
21. Laurent Lacomy/Sebastien Mattei (Renault Megane Renaultsport N4)
22. Jerome Chavanne (Renault Clio Renaultsport R3)
23. Pascal Berard/Caroline Berard (Renault Clio Renaultsport R3)
24. Boris Carminati/Jerome Redon (Renault Clio Renaultsport R3)
25. Mickael Reydellet/Thomas Chauffray (Renault Clio Renaultsport R3)
26. Bertrand Latour/Thomas Collongeon (Renault Megane Renaultsport N4)
27. Dorian Nicolas/Justine Obrecht (Renault Clio Renaultsport R3)
28. Eric Perier/Annie Perier (Renault Clio Renaultsport R3)
29. Thierry Dubois/Christophe Jaffre (Renault Clio Renaultsport R3)

R2 class (Renault Twingo R.S. R2)
32. William Pitot/Alexis Estival
33. Georges Gonon/Valerie Gonon
34. Jordan Mottard
35. Sylvain Canut/Sarah Salelles

R1 class (Renault Twingo R.S. R1)
42. Nicolas Renchet/Tom Fitzgerald
43. Antoine Margely/Francois-Xavier Delabarre
44. Emilien Sanlaville/Arnaud Cubizolles
45. Maxime Goetz/Marine Jeannot
46. Aurelien Lafont/Aurelien Verdenet
47. Pierre Vernet/Justine Camaly

Current Renault Sport standings:
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