A strong field to launch the season at the Rallye Rhône-Charbonnières

The Clio Trophy France Asphalte will feature for the first time since the introduction of Clio Rally5 at the Rallye Rhône-Charbonnières, with a line-up that has never been so impressive to start a season. In this iconic French Rally Championship round, the technical special stages, laid out on roads that generally offer a high grip level, will establish an initial hierarchy in the race to succeed Anthony Fotia, Romain Di-Fante, Thomas Chauffray, Benjamin Stirling and Arthur Pelamourgues.

Third in the Clio Trophy France Asphalte in 2023 and second in 2024, Yoan Corberand has his sights set on the title this year, joining the David Automobiles outfit and partnered by 2023 co-driver champion Florence Stirling in this round. However, the competition promises to be fierce, with Julien Deslauriers-Sablonnière keen to build on his two victories last year and make his mark on the season with Autocantal Compétition.

Twenty-eight Juniors will face them while battling for the official programme reserved for the best of them. Winner of the Rallye Jeunes Operation and at the 2023 Rallye Le Touquet Pas-de-Calais, Valentin Ascenzi is one to keep a close eye on as he makes his return in a Clio Rally5, all the more so as he has joined the title-winning team, Fun Meca Sport. After several podium finishes in his maiden campaign in 2024, Lucas Zielinski (PH Sport) is keen to confirm his potential, as are Enzo Beschet (David Automobiles), Tom Vauclare (CHL Sport Auto), Jean-Claude Pietri (Gilbert Compétition) and Amaury Facchinetti (David Automobiles).

There will be plenty of ambitious hopefuls. RC5 winner of the 2024 French Rally Cup Final, Marc Pompei (Lezeau Compétition), is looking to take a step forward this year. Paul Dachicourt (Fun Meca Sport), Kévin Duc (LCS Location Rallye), Rémy Narbon (Fun Meca Sport), Clément Didier and Enzo Mavounzy (Lezeau Compétition) have the same goal. Newcomers Alex Florenson (PH Sport), Julien Sabatier and Loïc Scandola (BHR Racing) will attempt to repeat their impressive results in the French Cup on their trophy debut. Less experienced with Clio Rally5, Yohan Codaccioni (GMC Compétition), David Panteix (PH Sport), Killian Marry (JLA Rally), Hugo Ramillon (S2M Racing), Julien Arnaud, Dorian Baptiste (Pit Stop France), Aurélien Dumont, Maxence Girard (GMC Compétition) and Louis Gass are others to watch, as is local driver, Léo Vericel.

Last year’s runner-up in the French Women’s Rally Championship, Charlotte Olea (Autocantal Compétition), will try to close the gap to the front runners while defending her women’s title against Emma Chalvin (Rageau Sport Location). Supported by Iron Dames and the French Motor Sport Federation for its Sport Auto Féminin programme, the 2022 FFSA Women’s Rallycross Cup winner will continue her development in Clio Rally5 while finding her feet in the Clio Trophy France Asphalte.

Other drivers could also spring a surprise. With their respective experience, Jérôme Janny (David Automobiles) and Romain Fostier (Fun Meca Sport) are not to be underestimated, nor are Nicolas Paviet-Roche, Yohan Roumieux (JLA Rally), Émilien Sanlaville and Anthony Diel (Rageau Sport Location) on home turf. Meanwhile, Florent Fagnone, Sylvain Lenne, Mathieu Duclos, Arnaud Boulange and Ludovic Lamarche (S2M Racing) will get the chance to see how they measure up in this ultra-competitive field.

Pascal Bérard will defend his title in the Gentlemen category against opponents he knows well. He will notably face Franck Giraud, Jacques Bourrat and Philippe Janvier (David Automobiles), who are out for revenge. Victorious in this class on his Clio Trophy France Asphalte debut at the 2024 Critérium des Cévennes, Raphaël Monnier also has high ambitions in a class completed by Laurent Lambert and marked by the return of Pascal Donnadieu.

After the Rallye Terre des Causses as part of the Clio Trophy France Terre, Johan Grès (Autocantal Compétition), Junior Lucas Valliccioni (GMC Compétition) and Christophe Truchet will also be in action. These three drivers will be able to assert their ambitions in the Clio Full Challenge, where the six best scores, including at least two on each surface, will reward the most versatile drivers at year’s end !

The 77th Rhône-Charbonnières Rally will consist of 204.62 kilometres of special stages on a total route of 533.32 km through the Monts du Lyonnais region on Friday, followed by the second leg in the heights of the Azergues Valley. The last ten of the 12 timed sections will award up to five "Performer Jean Ragnotti" points to the five fastest drivers, in addition to the points awarded at the finish. Alongside the Clio Trophy France Asphalte, 4 Clio Rally3s, 2 Clio Rally4s and 8 other Clio Rally5s will also be at the start line.

Entry list
#44 Yoan Corberand – Florence Stirling
#45 Lucas Zielinski – Clémence Favy (J)
#46 Julien Deslauriers-Sablonnière – Amandine Brunel
#47 Valentin Ascenzi – Melvine Pitois (J)
#48 Enzo Beschet – Emmanuel Guinchard (J)
#49 Tom Vauclare – Frédéric Vauclare (J)
#50 Jérôme Janny – Helena Pecheur
#51 Jean-Claude Pietri – Jean-François Muselli (J)
#52 Romain Fostier – Ophélie Abchiche
#53 Amaury Facchinetti – Emma Bonnemort (J)
#54 Paul Dachicourt – Adèle Dachicourt (J)
#55 Anthony Diel – Yannis Gosselin
#56 Marc Pompei – Matthieu Belhacene (J)
#57 Charlotte Olea – Cécile Pages (J, F)
#58 Alex Florenson – Charline Dichamp (J)
#59 Pascal Bérard – Caroline Bérard (G)
#60 Raphaël Monnier – Jean-François Hugon (G)
#61 Julien Sabatier – Brandon Masson (J)
#62 Kévin Duc – Séverine Chamiot-Maitral (J)
#63 Laurent Lambert – Yannick Le Moing (G)
#64 Loïc Scandola – Sonny Postel (J)
#65 Léo Vericel – Enzo Forissier (J)
#66 Nicolas Paviet-Roche – Tony Ponsot
#67 Florent Fagnone – Benjamin Fagnone
#68 Killian Marry – Adam Thouez (J)
#69 Rémy Narbon – Jade Gaston (J)
#70 Sylvain Lenne – Jérémy Pacaud
#71 Hugo Ramillon – Baptiste Gauthier (J)
#72 Johan Grès – Caroline Puel
#73 Christophe Truchet – Barbara Truchet
#74 Franck Giraud – Christophe Dubien (G)
#75 Mathieu Duclos – Valentine Donat-Magnin
#76 Yohan Codaccioni – Florian Chardon (J)
#77 Julien Arnaud – Marion Renchet (J)
#78 Dorian Baptiste – Grégory Poitevin (J)
#79 Arnaud Boulange – Lilou Boulange
#80 Clément Didier – Rémy Germain (J)
#81 Lucas Valliccioni – Charline Mollier (J)
#82 David Panteix – Morgan Lefebvre (J)
#83 Jacques Bourrat – Jean Bourrat (G)
#84 Pascal Donnadieu – Laurent Delmas (G)
#85 Yohan Roumieux – Bastien Fontaine
#86 Philippe Janvier – Julie Derory (G)
#87 Emma Chalvin – Charline Quartini (J, F)
#88 Aurélien Dumont – Fabien Hanquez (J)
#89 Emilien Sanlaville – Amaury Sanlaville
#90 Maxence Girard – Maxime Cotte-Colisson (J)
#91 Enzo Mavounzy – Julien Loiseau (J)
#92 Louis Gass – Alison Girard (J)
#93 Ludovic Lamarche – Julien Hufschmidt