The 64th Rallye International de Valais (RIV) concluded with spectacular moments, leaving fans and drivers with memories to last a lifetime. With 112 crews on the entry list, this year’s edition reaffirmed the RIV as a major highlight on the international rally calendar. The competition saw fierce battles across multiple categories, culminating in thrilling podium finishes and emotional victories.
Modern category: Hirschi takes victory as Burri seals Swiss Rally Championship
At the forefront of the action was Jonathan Hirschi and his co-driver Mélanie Tendille in their Citroën C3 Rally2, who emerged victorious in the Modern Category. The Swiss-French pairing put on a commanding performance, navigating the tricky stages around Valais with precision to take the top spot on the podium.
01: Jonathan Hirschi/Mélanie Tendille (Citroën C3 Rally2) – 1h 52m 29.1s
02: Jarosław Kołtun/Ireneusz Pleskot (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) + 1m 17.6s
03: Albert von Thurn und Taxis/Jara Hain (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) + 1m 35.8s
04: Nicolas Lathion/Marine Maye (Škoda Fabia RS Evo) + 2m 43.3s
05: Pascal Perroud/Yannick Roche (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) + 3m 21.4s
06: Jos Verstappen/Renaud Jamoul (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) + 4m 04.3s
07: David Erard/Sarah Junod (Škoda Fabia RS Evo) + 4m 32.1s
08: Pieter Tsjoen/Eddy Chevallier (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) + 4m 52.5s
09: Stefano Mella/Stefano Tiraboschi (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) + 4m 53.7s
10: Sergio Pinto/Simone D’Agostino (Alpine A110 Rally RGT) + 4m 55.5s
Hirschi’s win secured a fitting conclusion to an incredible season, as the reigning champion added another RIV title to his name.
Swiss Rally Championship drama: Burri and Aubry crowned champions amid chaos
While Hirschi celebrated on the top step of the podium, the Swiss Rally Championship’s title fight ended in high drama. Michaël Burri and Gaëtan Aubry clinched the national crown, but not in the way they had hoped. A serious accident during SS5 forced their Škoda Fabia off the road and into a ditch. Both Burri and Aubry were immediately taken to Sion Hospital for treatment, with Burri suffering a head injury and Aubry sustaining a torn ankle ligament.
Despite the crash, their championship title was secured when rival Mike Coppens and co-driver Christophe Roux also crashed in the same stage. With their closest competitors out, Burri and Aubry were declared champions, although the duo admitted the moment hadn’t fully sunk in yet.
“We’re doing well, considering the circumstances,” Burri said over the phone from the hospital. “We were lucky in our misfortune. The car is a total loss, and we’ll need time to process everything.”
Vintage cars add to the excitement
In addition to the Modern Category, rally fans were treated to exciting battles in the VHC (Historic) and VHRS (Regularity) categories:
VHC Category podium:
01: Eddy Bérard/Florence Bérard (BMW M3 E30) – 2h 06m 21.0s
02: Eddy Tapparel/Marion Tapparel (Porsche 911 SC) + 6m 33.4s
03: Bruno Rizzi/Gerald Buliard (Ford Escort RS 1600 MKI) + 10m 12.6s
VHRS Category podium:
01: Laurent Pernet/Florence Pernet
02: Dominique Udriot/Marylaure Udriot
03: René Winz/Jessica Cornuz
Eddy Bérard’s performance on the Nax-Region special earned him and his co-driver Florence Bérard a well-deserved VHC victory, while Laurent Pernet and Florence Pernet dominated the VHRS category, solidifying their place as champions in style.