- Rallye Antibes Côte d’Azur hosted round two of the Alpine ELF Rally Trophy within the French Tarmac Rally Championship.
- GT+ class winners Raphaël Astier and Denis Giraudet also took the top spot in the two-wheel drive category and finished third overall.
- Victorious in the RGT class, Grégory Fontalba and Stephan Hermet now lead the general classification heading into Rallye Vosges Grand Est.
Three weeks after the start of their campaign, the Alpine ELF Rally Trophy competitors gathered in Antibes, where the A-arrow brand caused a sensation in 2021 by winning outright with Nicolas Ciamin and Maxime Martini.
ASTIER GETS HIS REVENGE
Chasing big points after retiring from Rallye Rhône Charbonnières, Raphaël Astier set the pace on Saturday. After posting the fastest time in SS1, the CHL Sport Auto driver made the most of the A110 Rallye GT+’s qualities to run the table before it began to rain in the early afternoon. Pierre Roché broke the leader’s streak on the second run through Gréolières, but Raphaël Astier regained the upper hand in the following timed sectors.
In contention for a fantastic overall result, Raphaël Astier continued his offensive on Sunday, setting the fastest times in Levens – Saint-Jean-la-Rivière, La Bollène – Turini – Peïra Cava and La Cabanette – Col de Braus. Navigated by Denis Giraudet, Raphaël Astier repeated his performance in the final loop, marked by Pierre Roché’s crash, and sealed his first victory in the trophy since the 2021 Rallye d’Antibes Côte d’Azur.
FONTALBA COMES UP BIG
Winner in the RGT class reserved for the A110 Rally at Rallye Rhône-Charbonnières, Grégory Fontalba continued his impressive form in Antibes. The VIP Enjolras driver initially claimed the top spot ahead of Florian Bernardi, who suffered a mechanical failure in SS2, and then Mireille Vidueira.
However, the 2023 French Women’s Rally Champion turned the tide in the afternoon and took the lead after perfectly anticipating the rain. On Sunday, the Swiss driver resumed her battle with Grégory Fontalba, but her hopes were dashed when she left the road on SS8.
Back in the lead, Grégory Fontalba controlled his pace to secure his second win of the season ahead of Florian Bernardi, who confirmed his promising debut with five stage wins. With this victory, Grégory Fontalba now leads Raphaël Astier and Pierre Roché by ten points in the Alpine ELF Rally Trophy.
36 AND COUNTING!
Third overall and RGT winner, Raphaël Astier also took top honours in the French Two-Wheel Drive Rally Championship. The Frenchman secured the brand’s 36th consecutive victory in the competition, extending a streak that began in July 2021. Ludovic Godard – Alexis Maillefert and Cédric Robert – Matthieu Duval finished first and second in the Michelin Premium Trophy, completing the 2WD podium dominated by the Alpine A110 Rallye GT+.
The next round for the Alpine Elf Rally Trophy competitors is next month for a new event on the discipline’s calendar: Rallye Vosges Grand Est (13-15 June).
Raphaël Astier: “This victory is a great result for us in the trophy after our misfortune at Rallye Rhône Charbonnières. It’s also nice to get Alpine back on the overall podium, especially seeing how much Rally2 has evolved in recent years. The target was at least a top-five finish, but we had to deal with tricky conditions, which made tyre choices difficult on Saturday. Despite everything, we set several fastest times throughout the rally, including three in a row on Sunday afternoon. We limited the damage when it mattered and still enjoy driving this car as much as ever.”
Grégory Fontalba: “It was a tricky rally. On Saturday, the rain came, and we made the wrong tyre choice, leaving us in second place at the end of the first day. On Sunday morning, we went back on the attack to retake the lead, but Mireille’s crash allowed us to ease off a little and secure the points for the win, as we know they will be valuable at the end of the year. I also discovered a new battle companion in Florian Bernardi, who drove well and showed great potential this weekend. He will be a tough opponent, and it will be hard to stay ahead of him, but we will do everything we can to do so. See you in the Vosges!”
Florian Bernardi: “Despite the small setback on Saturday, when we had to stop due to a problem with the accessory belt, we got back on track on Sunday. The weather conditions didn’t necessarily help, with humidity in the morning, but it was an opportunity to drive the Alpine in these conditions, and we immediately felt confident. We put the hard tyres we had tried in testing and we took another step forward with the five RGT stage wins in five special stages. We’re gaining momentum, and everything looks good for the next rally!”
Rallye Antibes Côte d’Azur
1. Raphaël Astier – Denis Giraudet (GT+) 2h12m58.8s
2. Grégory Fontalba – Stephan Hermet (RGT) +11m54.1s
3. Florian Bernardi – Xavier Castex (RGT) +58m46.3s
Ret. Pierre Roché – Martine Roché (GT+)
Ret. Mireille Vidueira – Jeanne Rey (RGT)
Alpine ELF Rallye Trophy provisional classifications
Overall
1. Grégory Fontalba 30 points
2. Raphaël Astier 20 points
3. Pierre Roché 20 points
4. Fabrice Bect 12 points
4. Florian Bernardi 12 points
6. Mireille Vidueira 10 points
GT+ class
1. Raphaël Astier 20 points
2. Pierre Roché 20 points
RGT class
1. Grégory Fontalba 40 points
2. Fabrice Bect 15 points
2. Florian Bernardi 15 points
4. Mireille Vidueira 12 points
