The 65th edition of the Critérium des Cévennes, held from October 24 to 26, 2024, was cut short following the decision by the Hérault and Gard Prefectures to cancel the second stage due to adverse weather conditions. The rally concluded at the end of the first stage, with half points awarded, as stipulated under Article 9.8 of the French Rally Championship’s standard regulations.
Despite the shortened event, Léo Rossel and Guillaume Mercoiret made the most of the single stage, demonstrating their dominance on home soil. Engaged in a fierce battle with Yoann Bonato and Benjamin Boulloud, the pair shared nine fastest stage times throughout the day. Ultimately, Rossel’s performance secured victory, reinforcing his lead in the championship standings. With only the final round in Var remaining, Rossel now holds a 12.5-point advantage.
Key highlights from the rally
- 2WD Category: Cédric Robert took his second consecutive win in the 2WD Championship, followed closely by rising talent Pablo Sarrazin, who claimed a brilliant second place. Local driver Jean-François Mourgues rounded off the podium.
- Women’s Championship: Sarah Rumeau had already secured her third French Rally Championship title, while Julie Amblard clinched the co-driver’s title over the weekend.
- Michelin Trophy for Amateurs: The hotly contested trophy, with a prize of driving a Rally2 car in the 2025 championship, will be decided at the final event. Despite his early withdrawal at Cévennes, Thomas Capelli remains the favourite, holding a 17-point lead over Patrick Benne and a 19-point lead over Ludovic Jeudy.
- Clio Trophy France Asphalt: Arthur Pelamourgues secured his title by simply starting the rally. He is now set to become an official Alpine Racing driver for 2025.
- Teams’ Championship: PH Sport by Minerva Oil claimed victory and retains their position at the top of the standings.
Rally overview
The first stage saw Rossel and Bonato alternate as stage leaders, with Rossel clinching six of the nine fastest times and Bonato taking three. However, the unpredictable weather prevented the second day’s competition from taking place. Eric Camilli, piloting a Hyundai i20N Rally2, finished in third, marking another podium finish in his debut season with the car.
In a competitive field beyond the top three, Lucas Darmezin and Valentin Auge finished fourth, narrowly ahead of Rehane Gany and Franck Le Floch by 11.9 seconds. Meanwhile, Rumeau and Amblard resisted pressure from Patrick Rouillard and David Marty, finishing sixth, just 12.9 seconds clear of their rivals.
Provisional Standings (after 8 rounds)
01: L. Rossel – 118 points
02: Y. Bonato – 105.5 points
03: E. Camilli – 91 points
04: H. Margaillan – 53 points
05: L. Darmezin – 49 points
06: S. Rumeau – 47 points
Driver insights
Léo Rossel (Citroën C3 Rally2 – PH Sport by Minerva Oil):
“It was a magical weekend since we were at home. It’s unfortunate that the rally couldn’t go to the end, but we fully understand. Even before the rally began, I knew the rain would make things challenging. I focused on leading at every regroup to maximise points because I knew the event could stop at any moment. Still, it was great to race on home roads, surrounded by supporters. The night stage was incredible with fireworks and flares lighting up the atmosphere. It’s a bittersweet victory because we couldn’t properly celebrate at the final stop point, but we’ll aim to win the entire rally next time!”
Yoann Bonato (Citroën C3 Rally2 – Trajectus Motorsport):
“Although it was a shortened event, it still felt like a true Cévennes rally with rain, leaves, night driving, and even a bit of fog. The second stage would have been extremely difficult, and the decision to cancel it was wise given the amount of water already on the roads. Despite that, we had a lot of fun.”
Eric Camilli (Hyundai i20N Rally2 – Team Bonneton HDG – 2C Compétition):
“We are satisfied with our performance, even though it was a challenging weekend. Our two main competitors were very quick. We gave it our best and hope to improve for the next round in Var. It was still a pleasure driving this car, and we look forward to what lies ahead.”
Looking ahead to the Rallye du Var
The championship will conclude with the 70th Rallye du Var, taking place from November 21 to 24, 2024. The outcome of several titles will be determined there, including the prestigious Michelin Trophy for Amateurs. All eyes will be on Rossel as he aims to secure the drivers’ title, with Bonato and Camilli still in the hunt.
Final Results
01: L. Rossel/G. Mercoiret (Citroën C3 Rally2) – 57m 46.5s
02: Y. Bonato/B. Boulloud (Citroën C3 Rally2) + 15.5s
03: E. Camilli/T. De la Haye (Hyundai i20 N Rally2) + 39.3s
04: L. Darmezin/V. Auge (Citroën C3 Rally2) + 1m 41.7s
05: R. Gany/F. Le Floch (Ford Fiesta Rally2) + 1m 53.6s
06: S. Rumeau/J. Amblard (Ford Fiesta Rally2) + 2m 27.0s
07: P. Rouillard/D. Marty (Škoda Fabia Rally2 evo) + 2m 29.9s
08: C. Robert/M. Duval (Alpine A110 Rally RGT) + 3m 35.4s
09: B. Stirling/F. Stirling-Wehrey (Renault Clio Rally3) + 4m 00.9s
10: T. Chauffray/A. Hamard (Renault Clio Rally3) + 4m 22.2s