After a curtailed edition in 2021, then an unusually dry one in 2022, the Critérium des Cévennes was back on the calendar this year to host the Clio Trophy France Asphalte season finale. Often dreaded for its disastrous weather conditions, the rally lived up to its reputation with heavy showers during scrutineering and the shakedown on Thursday.

Overall leader Arthur Pelamourgues only had to start the first special stage on Friday to confirm his coronation and officially succeed Anthony Fotia, Romain Di-Fante, Thomas Chauffray and Benjamin Stirling as Clio Trophy France Asphalte champions. However, the new winner got off to a shaky start. Although he initially was level with Julien Deslauriers Sablonnière in the opening two timed sectors, the driver from Rodez suffered a double puncture on SS3. With only one spare wheel on board, Arthur Pelamourgues managed to finish the timed sector just 90 seconds slower, but his rival escaped with a lead of 33.5s over the chase group led by Romain Fostier.

On drier roads in the afternoon, Julien Deslauriers Sablonnière continued to extend his lead, dominating the Le Rey - Mandagout stage where Romain Fostier retired. Fun Meca Sport’s title hopes then suffered a severe setback, but Arthur Pelamourgues kept Jérémy Brissiaud’s team in contention with three consecutive fastest times to climb from 13th to fourth place. The rain returned for the two night stages, where Lucas Zielinski was the fastest on the Brissac circuit before Arthur Pelamourgues claimed his fifth stage win of the day.

Moments later, the rally took a different direction. Given the weather forecasts for Saturday, the Préfet de l’Hérault, in consultation with the Préfet du Gard, issued a decree suspending the Critérium des Cévennes. This decision marked the premature end of the event.

Julien Deslauriers Sablonnière sealed his second win of the year with co-driver Amandine Brunel and the Autocantal Compétition team. Lucas Zielinski won the Junior category while taking second place from Yoan Corberand by 3.2s in the final kilometres. Arthur Pelamourgues was fourth, ahead of Samuel Lay and Enzo Beschet. Tom Vauclare climbed to seventh place in the evening at the expense of Benjamin Rico and Spaniard Juan Manuel Mañá while Thomas Santiago denied Yohan Roumieux a place in the top ten in the final special stage. Meanwhile, Raphaël Monnier and Charlotte Oléa respectively won the Gentlemen’s and Women’s categories.

The premature end of the event also shortened the race for the titles, as the classifications were validated at the end of the time control after SS9. Competitors covered over 10% but less than 50% of the initially scheduled timed distance, so half points were awarded. Fun Meca Sport won the team classification, 2.5 points ahead of David Automobiles, which claimed the Renault Network Challenge. The cancellation of the second leg also enabled Arthur Pelamourgues to win the Jean Ragnotti Power Stage Trophy for the second year running. Lastly, Pascal Bérard and Charlotte Oléa sealed their top spots in the Gentlemen and Female classes.

Meanwhile, Benjamin and Florence Stirling rounded off their official Castrol Clio Rally3 campaign in style, winning for the fourth successive time and claiming a fifth podium in as many starts after an intense battle with the duos of Thomas Chauffray - Anthony Hamard and Jérémie Serieys - Stéphane Crespin to lead an all Clio Rally3 podium.

The Clio Trophy France Asphalte now turns its attention to the next season as the 2025 calendar will be soon unveiled.

Julien Deslauriers Sablonnière : "We’re delighted to score our second win of the season despite the feeling of unfinished business given the circumstances. We were on the pace straight away and managed to avoid the hazards of the first loop to get a small lead. Tyre choice was quite complicated at midday. We didn’t anticipate as many dry sections as our rivals did. However, we saved our tyres, looked after my driving and managed our advantage to finish the day in the lead. I think I’ve become wiser since my Clio Trophy France Asphalte debut. I’m less impulsive and more thoughtful with this Clio Rally5, which suits my driving style in many ways."

Clio Trophy France Asphalte – Critérium des Cévennes
1. Julien Deslauriers – Amandine Brunel 1h04m38.0s
2. Lucas Zielinski – Clémence Favy (J) +57.6s
3. Yoan Corberand – Pauline Compozieux +1m00.8s
4. Arthur Pelamourgues – Bastien Pouget (J) +1m16.0s
5. Samuel Lay – Pierre Delorme (J) +1m42.0s
6. Enzo Beschet – Emmanuel Guinchard (J) +2m19.0s
7. Tom Vauclare – Frédéric Vauclare (J) +2m39.2s
8. Benjamin Rico – Bastien Dumas (J) +2m44.9s
9. Juan Manuel Mañá – David Fernandez +2m46.5s
10. Thomas Santiago – Anne-Laurence Breton (J) +2m51.3s
11. Yohan Roumieux – Bastien Fontaine (J) +2m53.3s
12. Raphaël Monnier – Anthony Monnier (G) +3m47.0s
13. Jérôme Janny – Aurélien Beaudouin +4m01.7s
14. Pascal Bérard – Caroline Bérard (G) +4m04.5s
15. Charlotte Olea – Cécile Pages (J, F) +4m44.8s
16. Teddy Turco – Aurélie Védrine (J) +5m23.3s
17. Franck Giraud – Sylvain Guillaume (G) +5m45.3s
18. Michel Rico – Fred Toubert (G) +5m49.7s
19. Laurent Lambert – Yannick Le Moing (G) +5m56.2s
20. Néo Rivallant – Melvin Fraigne (J) +6m00.7s
21. Nicolas Vanderweerde – Therry Closter +6m22.8s
22. Christophe Truchet – Barbara Truchet +6m23.7s
23. Baptiste Voillaume – Marlène Thiriot +6m59.6s
24. Willy Mathey – Maëlle Casays (G) +8m37.6s
25. Jacques Bourrat – Jean Bourrat (G) +9m13.6s
26. Kevin Cichosz – Adèle Cichosz +9m26.5s
27. Sabine Frontier – Élodie Pitot (F) +11m39.4s
Ret. Romain Fostier – Ophélie Abchiche
DNS. Jean-Pierre Lejeune – Geneviève Arnavielhe (G)

Clio Trophy France Asphalte - Jean Ragnotti Power Stage Trophy - Teams classification - Renault Network Challenge