Patrick Magnou/Anthony Vilanova winners in Nice for French Rally Cup🍾

Local heroes Patrick Magnou/Anthony Vilanova clinched the top spot at the 2024 Coupe de France des Rallyes in a commanding performance, securing a dream victory on home soil. Representing the Ligue du Sport Automobile Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur (PACA), the duo steered their Citroën C3 Rally2 to victory in a tightly contested event, ahead of Cyril Audirac/Romain Roche and Louis Constant/Pierre Delorme, completing a 100% local podium in Nice.

“A great success despite the weather”

The event’s success was celebrated by Rémi Tosello, President of the PACA League, who praised the organisers and participants: “I think this Final was a great success despite the weather conditions. We did everything we could to ensure the rally could take place in the best possible conditions. The sun eventually came out, and we had some great winners. The spectators also showed up in force. I am very proud of the organising team, and I thank all the volunteers for their involvement.”

A rally marked by delays and drama

The Coupe de France des Rallyes is one of the most anticipated events in amateur motorsport. The 2024 edition promised thrills, with legendary stages like Col du Turini and Col de la Couillole drawing fans and competitors alike. However, the event faced a rocky start. Heavy rains during reconnaissance and the mobilisation of emergency services forced organisers to delay the start until SS3, condensing the rally into two loops of three special stages, totalling 87.18 kilometres, on Saturday, October 20.

Despite the challenging conditions, Magnou and Vilanova dominated from the outset, thanks to a smart tyre choice. Their aggressive pace in the opening stages earned them a comfortable lead by the halfway point, which they managed perfectly to secure their career-defining win.

Tight battle for the podium

While Magnou’s top spot was never seriously in danger, the fight for second and third was intense. Cyril Audirac increased his pace after SS3, locking down second place in his Volkswagen Polo Rally2. Meanwhile, Louis Constant, driving a Hyundai i20 N Rally2, struggled with tyre choices early on but stormed back to post the fastest time in the final stage. His late push earned him third place at just 22 years old.

Magnou: “It’s really great! This victory reflects a season-long effort and, above all, teamwork. My brother prepares a fantastic car, and winning here feels like a well-earned reward. It’s huge—thank you all.”
Audirac: “This Final was special for us, being at home, and we had a fantastic time. Patrick was the strongest, and I have to congratulate him—well done! It’s a great podium.”
Constant: “We came for the win, but it was decided in the first loop with the tyres. We have no regrets and gave it everything as a team. Thanks to our partners—we’re not stopping here.”

Top five and beyond

Rounding out the top five were Bruno Riberi/Valentin Salmon and Anthony Puppo/Virginie Puppo, both in Citroën C3 Rally2 and Hyundai i20 N Rally2 machines, respectively. Despite high hopes, both teams acknowledged that the day belonged to Magnou/Vilanova.

First among the non-local competitors was Denis Millet, finishing sixth in his Volkswagen Polo Rally2, marking the end of a strong season for the driver.

Class winners and special mentions

The Coupe de France Final also highlighted impressive performances across multiple classes:

• RGT: Ludovic Godard repeated his 2023 success, finishing seventh overall and winning the RGT class in his Alpine A110.
• GT+: Loïc Panagiotis clinched victory with an Alpine A110, while Bruno Godtler took the GT10 title in a Porsche 997 GT3.
• F Rally Nat: Thomas Badel dominated with his Renault Clio Williams F214, finishing in the top 10 overall and winning his class. Fabrice Calascione secured the A7K title in his Peugeot 306 Maxi.
• F RC4: Jérémie Seyries was unstoppable, winning both the group and R3 class in his Renault Clio. Paul Mariani took the Rally4 class crown in a Peugeot 208.
• F RC5: After an exciting battle, Marc Pompei emerged victorious in his Renault Clio RS Line, edging out Loïc Scandola.
• Women’s Category: Elodie Gines dominated in her Peugeot 208 Rally4, finishing comfortably ahead of Harmonie Bagnol and Elisabeth Beranger.
• Young Drivers: Paul Mariani topped the young drivers’ standings, representing the Corsican Automobile Sports League, with Tobias Laurence and Warren Tribouillois completing the podium.

Overall Results

01: P. Magnou/A. Vilanova (Citroën C3 Rally2) – 58m 21.2s
02: C. Audirac/R. Roche (Volkswagen Polo Rally2) + 5.6s
03: L. Constant/P. Delorme (Hyundai i20 N Rally2) + 14.2s
04: B. Riberi/V. Salmon (Citroën C3 Rally2) + 51.5s
05: A. Puppo/V. Puppo (Hyundai i20 N Rally2) + 1m 11.9s
06: D. Millet/M. Douville (Volkswagen Polo Rally2) + 1m 20.5s
07: L. Godard/M. Bole-Richard (Alpine A110 RGT) + 2m 51.8s
08: Y. Vivens/E. Alle (Citroën DS3 Rally2) + 3m 22.5s
09: T. Badel/A. Badel (Renault Clio Williams F214) + 3m 36.3s
10: X. Quinsac/P. Gullino (Citroën C3 Rally2) + 3m 37.9s