Clio Cup Middle East

Eduardo Miranda (Uniq Racing) beat Stanislav Novikov (Continental Racing) in the final sprint in the Clio Cup Middle East. While the Netherlands’ Jaap van Lagen (ARMotors) dictated the pace throughout the weekend at the Yas Marina Circuit, the two title contenders joined him on the two podiums on a rainy Sunday in Abu Dhabi. Already crowned champion in the Challengers, Mexico’s Eduardo Miranda succeeded Jerzy Spinkiewicz on the discipline’s honours list by beating the Russian in race one. His rival took solace in the Gentlemen Drivers crown and the team title with Continental Racing.

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Clio Ice Trophy

The third meeting of the Clio Ice Trophy saw Volkan Isik (Puzzle Motorsport) take his second victory of the season. Although the Turk produced a perfect score in this exceptionally close round on the Pas de la Casa Circuit, the race for the title remains open with five drivers still in contention. Spain’s Antonio Otero (Puzzle Motorsport) and France’s Yannick Francisci (Casanova Sport Auto) will go into the final round level on points at the top of the general classification, but Charlie Fréard (WRM by Chanoine Motorsport / SRD Racing), Volkan Isik and Christophe Casanova (Casanova Sport Auto) still have a chance at the title.

More information here.

Belgian Rally Championship

2023 Clio Trophy Belgium title winner, Lander Depotter will make his four-wheel drive debut with co-driver Jasper Maelfait and the Pieter Tsjoen Racing team. Decked out in the Castrol, Michelin and Sabelt colours, the crew will contest at least two rounds with Clio Rally3, namely the Rallye de Wallonie (27-28 April) and the Aarova Rally Oudenaarde (24 August). The Rallye de Wallonie will also mark the start of the 2024 Clio Trophy Belgium season, with the future best Junior receiving a drive in Clio Rally3 on the 2025 Monte-Carlo Rally.

And elsewhere…

Clio Rally3 won in Italy thanks to Matteo Giordano and Manuela Siragusa, who were victorious in Rally3 at the Ronde della Val Merula. On the Ligurian tarmac, Clio Rally5 also impressed in its class, with Maurizio Gabella and Enrico Ruffinelli leading a sweep of the top six.

Clio Rally4 scored a quadruple podium finish at Rallijs Sarma with Turkey’s Can Alakoç and his Latvian co-driver Andris Mālnieks. The pair overcame the challenges of the snowy conditions to finish second in Class 3, LRC4 and RSK9 while also finishing third in the Junior category. The crew now leads in LRC4 in the Latvian Rally Championship.

Lastly, Clio Rally5 won in the French Rally Cup, with two overall top-ten finishes and a lockout of the top five in its class led by Georges Baylac and Marie-Flore Galtieri on the Rallye Côte des Nacres - Costa Serena. Clio Rally5 also excelled on the Rallye des Routes du Nord with 18-year-old Andrea Pelini, thirteenth overall with co-driver Hugo Lienard and leader of a Clio Rally5 sweep of the top six in its class for his first rally start as a driver.

Coming up

On Saturday, the Clio Ice Trophy will be in action for the final time in 2024, with five competitors still in with a chance of succeeding Romain Di-Fante and Dylan Dufas. Stay tuned to our social media on Thursday for the entry list for what promises to be a spectacular and thrilling season finale !