The sixth round of the Renault Sport Challenge is taking place at the Rallye Bourgogne – Côte Chalonnaise, an international event that is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. This latest round is a vital one for the Challenge contenders, as it marks the start of the second half of the season, giving the favourites a chance to position themselves ahead of the final straight.

In the R1 class points leader Antoine Margely will be lining up with the intention of extending his advantage over the field; his codriver will be Léa Pustelnik. With two wins and three podiums finishes in all in his three appearances this season, he is looks the man to beat, though he faces a stiff challenge from a posse of drivers with plenty to prove. Victorious in the first round of the year and currently third in the R1 standings, Nicolas Renchet is teaming up with Sophie Joram in the hope of pushing for another win. Present on the podium in their last two outings, Aurelien Lafont and Aurelien Verdenet lie joint-fourth with top-five regulars Theo Chalal and Sarah Mancini, while the consistent Emilien Sanlaville and Arnaud Cubizolles also have designs on the top three, as do Dorian Delagne and Romain Garel, not to mention Maxime Goetz and Marine Jeannot.

A podium finisher in all four of his appearances, William Pitot, who will have Alexis Estival alongside him, is aiming to make the most of Georges Gonon’s absence by regaining the points lead in the R2 class. Out to stop him will be Marvin Sorin and Karine Moinet, and Jordan Mottard and Leo Occhipinti, two crews who have become familiar faces on the podium. Making their Challenge debuts at the wheel of the Renault Twingo R.S. R2 Evo are Jeremi Campos/Kevin Parent and Gerald Coulon/Arthur Gallet.

R3/N4 championship leader Laurent Lacomy will have Sebastien Mattei as his co-driver as he bids to break right away from the pack, with his chances of doing so improved by the fact that neither Pascal Berard nor Jerome Chavanne – the two men behind him in the standings – will be taking part. Two other drivers to watch in the Renault Megane Renaultsport N4 are Bertrand Latour and Thomas Collongeon, while Mickael Reydellet and Thomas Chauffray, who both excelled in Le Gard in the Clio Renaultsport R3, have the incentive of climbing into the top three in the points if they can impress again in Burgundy. A number of other crews will be giving their all in the Clio R3, starting with Thierry Dubois and Christophe Jaffre, who were on duty in the last Challenge round in Brittany last month, and Michel Nicollier/Steve Niederhanser, who were in Pays du Gier. Meanwhile, two crews will be making their debuts at the Rallye Bourgogne – Côte Chalonnaise: Damien Stempfle/Aurelien Barthelemy and Philippe Baffoun/Laurence Vinel.

The Rallye Bourgogne – Côte Chalonnaise takes place over two days, Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 July, and features 12 special stages and a total of 149.72 kilometres of timed sections.

Rallye Bourgogne – Côte Chalonnaise
Entrants:
R3/N4 class
Laurent Lacomy/Sebastien Mattei (Renault Megane R.S. N4)
Mickael Reydellet/Thomas Chauffray (Renault Clio R.S. R3)
Bertrand Latour/Thomas Collongeon (Renault Megane R.S N4)
Thierry Dubois/Christophe Jaffre (Renault Clio R.S. R3)
Michel Nicollier/Steve Niederhanser (Renault Clio R.S. R3)
Damien Stempfle/Aurelien Barthelemy (Renault Clio R.S. R3)
Philippe Baffoun/Laurence Vinel (Renault Clio R.S. R3)

R2 class (Renault Twingo R.S. R2)
William Pitot/Alexis Estival
Marvin Sorin/Karine Moinet
Jordan Mottard/Leo Occhipinti
Jeremi Campos/Kevin Parent
Gerald Coulon/Arthur Gallet

R1 class (Renault Twingo R.S. R1)
Antoine Margely/Léa Pustelnik
Nicolas Renchet/Sophie Joram
Theo Chalal/Sarah Mancini
Aurelien Lafont/Aurelien Verdenet
Emilien Sanlaville/Arnaud Cubizolles
Dorian Delagne/Romain Garel
Maxime Goetz/Marine Jeannot

Renault Sport Challenge standings before the Rallye Bourgogne – Côte Chalonnaise
R3/N4 class
1. Laurent Lacomy, 69 points (8, 25, 18, DNC*, 18)
2. Pascal Berard, 57 (15, 15, DNC, 12, 15)
3. Jerome Chavanne, 36 (18, 18, DNC, DNC, DNC)
4. Mickael Reydellet, 27 (12, DNC, DNC, 15, DNC)
5. Boris Carminati, 25 (25, DNC, DNC, DNC, DNC)
5. Anthony Cosson, 25 (DNC, DNC, 25, DNC, DNC)

R2 class
1. Georges Gonon, 68 points (18, 25, DNC, 25, DNC)
2. William Pitot, 63 (15, 18, 15, 15, DNC)
3. Marvin Sorin, 37 (DNC, 12, 25, DNC, DNC)
4. Jordan Mottard, 33 (DNC, 15, DNC, 18, DNC)

R1 class
1. Antoine Margely, 68 points (DNC, DNC, 25, 18 +25)
2. Romain Auvert, 45 (25, 0, 12+ DNC, 8)
3. Nicolas Renchet, 43 (18, 25, DNC, DNC, DNC)
4. Aurelien Lafont, 40 (DNC, disq., DNC, 25, 15)
4. Theo Chalal, 40 (12, 10, 18, DNC, DNC)
6. Emilien Sanlaville, 27 (15, DNC, DNC, 12, DNC)
6. Alexandre Cosson, 27 (DNC, DNC, 15, DNC, 12)

*Did not compete.