This weekend, the picturesque town of Millau (France) will come alive once again with the roar of engines as the Rallye Terre des Cardabelles celebrates its 40th anniversary. A key fixture in the French Gravel Championship (CFRT), the event will see over 150 teams competing across various categories, including 22 Rally2 cars, CFRT 2RM competitors, the Trophée National Terre Yacco, Clio Trophy France Terre, and CFRT VHC participants.
Matthieu and Mathilde Margaillan, driving their Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 for Team AMD Motorsport, are set to be the stars of the show as they aim to clinch the title in Millau. With three wins already under their belt this season, the Margaillans are poised to seal the championship. Standing in their way, however, is Laurent Pellier, who will be pushing hard in his Hyundai i20 Rally2 for Team Bonneton HDG 2C Yacco, especially following the unexpected withdrawal of his main rival, Florent Todeschini. Adding to the fierce competition, Emmanuel Gascou, also representing Team AMD Motorsport in his Skoda Fabia Evo Rally2, will be looking to build on his recent podium finish in Mende, while the young and talented Pablo Sarrazin, driving for Sarrazin Motorsport Iron Lynx in his Volkswagen Polo Rally2, continues his Rally2 learning curve and is capable of achieving a strong result.
The Trophée National Terre Yacco will also be hotly contested, with the main contenders being Jean-Luc Morel, Jérôme Nouzières, and Guy Bekaert, all piloting Subaru Impreza N4s. As the season nears its end, these drivers remain in the hunt for the title, making every second count in this penultimate rally.
In the Clio Trophy France Terre category, Tom Pellerey of Team CHL Sport Auto Yacco is already celebrating, having secured the junior champion title and an official drive for next season. But his ambitions don’t stop there—Pellerey is now setting his sights on winning the overall classification, a goal that will see him face stiff competition from drivers like Benjamin Boulenc and Benjamin Stirling. With 20 Renault Clio Rally5s taking to the stages, this category is expected to deliver nail-biting action throughout the weekend.
The CFRT 2RM category has also been dominated by Tom Pellerey so far, though he will be under pressure from Florian Herbin in his Peugeot 206 RC F214 and the ever-consistent Benjamin Boulenc, ensuring that no position will be given up without a fight.
The weekend kicks off on Friday, October 4, with technical and administrative checks taking place from 14:30 to 21:15, followed by a press conference at Parc de la Victoire in Millau. Saturday’s first stage gets underway at 07:00, with the day’s action wrapping up at 18:07. On Sunday, the rally resumes at 07:00 and concludes at 17:00. With a total of 145 kilometers of competitive stages spread over ten special sections, the Rallye Terre des Cardabelles promises to be a true test of skill and endurance.
Spectators can follow all the action live on the CFRTV YouTube channel, bringing the rally’s excitement right to their screens. With so much at stake and the championship title within reach for several competitors, this 40th anniversary edition is set to be one of the most memorable in the rally’s storied history. Don’t miss out on this thrilling celebration of motorsport as the Rallye Terre des Cardabelles takes center stage once again.