The Alpine A110 Rally notched another victory in its storied rally history, conquering the French two-wheel drive category at the Rallye du Var. The event, which also served as the season finale for the Alpine ELF Rally Trophy, saw intense competition and strategic driving from top contenders.
Fontalba seals victory with strategic mastery
2022 Alpine ELF Rally Trophy champion Grégory Fontalba, alongside navigator Stéphan Hermet, delivered a masterclass in rally driving. Dominating from the start, Fontalba set the pace with the fastest times on the initial stages and continued his formidable performance through the weekend. Despite a challenging final day with mixed weather conditions, Fontalba expertly managed his lead, securing his fourth victory in the trophy and cementing his status as runner-up in the overall championship standings. Fontalba shared his excitement, “I am delighted to have finished and won after our big incident at the Coeur de France. The conditions were tricky on Sunday, but we avoided the many hazards to stay on the road. I look forward to discovering the new trophy features planned for 2025!”
Pierre Roché ascends in GT+
Two-time champion Pierre Roché made a triumphant transition to the A110 Rallye GT+ at the Var event. After a heated early battle, Roché capitalized on his competitor’s mishap to surge ahead, showcasing his adaptability and securing a dominant win in the GT+ class. His performance not only earned him a top finish in the Michelin Premium Trophy but also significant points towards the general championship. Roché commented, “It was a good opportunity to progress and gain experience with the Alpine A110 Rallye GT+. We realized towards the end that the set-up wasn’t that much different from that of the A110 Rally. From then on, I enjoyed myself despite having nothing to compete for anymore. All that’s left now is to put in a good test session to prepare for the start of next season!”
Alpine dominates national championships
The Alpine team shined throughout the French Two-Wheel Drive Rally Championship, with Cédric Robert and Matthieu Duval leading the way in their Alpine A110 Rally. Despite fierce competition, Robert extended his lead in challenging conditions to clinch the title by a significant margin, marking another successful season for Alpine with multiple championships under their belt. Robert expressed his team’s effort, “I truly owe this title to the team as we had to give it our all until the end. Everyone believed in us, so offering them this honor is fantastic. After our incident on the Rhône-Charbonnières, we dealt with extremely fast drivers like Raphaël Astier and Quentin Gilbert. They then moved up to GT+, but at the end of the day, it was worth going all the way!”
Looking ahead to 2025
The Alpine ELF Rally Trophy is already gearing up for an exciting 2025 season, starting with the Rallye Rhône-Charbonnières and moving through a series of challenging rallies across France. With new stages and updates planned, competitors and fans alike are eagerly anticipating what promises to be another thrilling year in rally racing.
2025 Alpine ELF Rally Trophy Calendar
The 2025 season will kick off with the Rallye Rhône-Charbonnières, followed by the Rallye Antibes Côte d’Azur and other notable events, culminating in the Rallye du Var, promising a season filled with intense competition and innovative rally stages.
01: 24-26 April: Rallye Rhône-Charbonnières
02: 16-18 May: Rallye Antibes Côte d’Azur
03: 13-15 June: Rallye Vosges Grand-Est
04: 4-6 September: Rallye Mont-Blanc Morzine
05: 26-28 September: Rallye Cœur de France
06: 27-30 November: Rallye du Var
