Kris Princen, the 2009 Clio R3 European Trophy champion and last year’s Clio R3 France Trophy winner, will start this weekend’s Rallye du Var with the 2012 Renault Sport France Challenge title safely in his possession. There is no question of the Belgian easing off the throttle though, as he goes for a fifth win in six events, with an even stronger field in competition this time around.

Seven crews will be fighting it out in the Clio Renaultsport R3 in this the sixth and final event of the season, which sees two new faces in the field. Eighteen-year-old Manchester driver Chris Ingram makes his debut in the car fresh from winning the 2012 Twingo Renaultsport R2 Trophy UK, while the slightly more experienced Monaco racer Bruno Riberi knows what to expect in the Var, having competed on the region’s roads before.

Though Kris Princen, Eric Mauffrey and Benoit Vaillant have already clinched the top three spots in the Renault Sport France Challenge standings, fourth place is still up for grabs. In the points twice this season, Damien Tozlanian is the man who currently holds the position, three points clear of Olivier Courtois and Jerome Chavanne, who both have podium finishes to their name this term, earned at Macon and Morzine respectively.

Partnered in the Var by seasoned co-driver Eddy Chevaillier, Kris Princen is the big favourite to win an event he knows better than any other in France, though he can expect a strong challenge from the fast-improving Benoit Vaillant, who was on the podium at Limoges and Macon and is out to end the season in style.
Featuring 12 special stages spread over three legs, the Rallye du Var gets under way this Friday.

Extract from the rally regulations
The Renault Sport France Challenge is open to teams driving the Clio Renaultsport R3 or Megane Renaultsport N4. Drivers must compete in a minimum of two rallies to be ranked in the overall standings.
Points allocation: 1st place - 25 points; 2nd - 18; 3rd - 15; 4th - 12; 5th - 10; 6th - 8; 7th - 6; 8th - 4; 9th - 2; 10th - 1.
Prize money: 1st place: €2,000 plus €1,500 in vouchers and eight tyres; 2nd: €1,000 plus €1,000 in vouchers and six tyres; 3rd: €800 plus €700 in vouchers and four tyres; 4th: €600 plus €400 in vouchers and two tyres; 5th: €400 plus €400 in vouchers.
Each driver’s best five results of the season will count towards the Renault Sport Challenge standings.

58th Rallye du Var
Entrants
50. Kris Princen/Eddy Chevaillier (Clio Renaultsport R3)
51. Benoit Vaillant/Henri-Pierre Morin (Clio Renaultsport R3)
52. Damien Tozlanian/Florine Alphand (Clio Renaultsport R3)
53. Olivier Courtois/Kevin Bronner (Clio Renaultsport R3)
54. Jerome Chavanne/Alex Chioso (Clio Renaultsport R3)
55. Chris Ingram/Stephen McAuley (Clio Renaultsport R3)
56. Bruno Riberi/Florian Haut-Labourdette (Clio Renaultsport R3)

Schedule
Friday 23 November
13.08: Start, Sainte-Maxime
13.35: Service park
14.15: SS1, La Môle 1 (7.58 km)
14.55: SS2, Bormes les Mimosas (10.19 km)
15.25: SS3, Cogolin (17.93 km)
16.00: Service park
17.05: SS4, Le Plan de la Tour 1 (20.25 km)
18.05: Parc fermé
Saturday 24 November
07.00: Parc fermé
07.20: Service park
08.35: SS5, Le Plan de la Tour 2 (20.25 km)
09.30: Service park
10.10: SS6, Collobrières 1 (32.57 km)
11.10: SS7, Pignans (16.65 km)
12.25: SS8, La Môle 2 (7.58 km)
15.20: Service park
16.25: SS9, Vidauban 1 (31.74 km)
19.00: Parc fermé
Sunday 25 November
05.40: Parc fermé
06.00: Service park
07.00: SS10, La Garde Freinet 1 (10.99 km)
07.45: SS11, Collobrières 2 (32.57 km)
09.05: Service park
10.10: SS12, Vidauban 2 (31.74 km)
11.50: Finish