April 24–26, 2025 | Rallye Rhône-Charbonnières | Round 2, FFSA French Rally Championship
The tarmac of Charbonnières-les-Bains is calling once again—and this year, it’s louder than ever.
The Rallye Rhône-Charbonnières 2025 rolls in as Round 2 of the FFSA French Rally Championship, and it’s coming in hot with a staggering 172 crews ready to battle across 12 all-new stages. That’s 204.62km of flat-out rallying, new special stages, a revamped shakedown in Savigny, and a lineup stacked with rally firepower from France’s top drivers and teams.
This isn’t just another round. This is Charbo XXL.
Rally2: Bonato Leads the Titans
With the Round 1 winners absent, the iconic pairing of Yoann Bonato and Benjamin Boulloud headline the Rally2 entry list and are the team to beat. Having conquered Charbo in both 2023 and 2024, Bonato’s aiming for a three-peat—but the chasers are lining up to dethrone him.
Look out for:
- Eric Camilli & Thibault De La Haye
- Réhane Gany & Franck Le Floch
- Anthony Fotia & Michel Di Lullo
- Pablo Sarrazin & Yannick Roche
- Thibault Habouzit, Hugo Margaillan, Lucas Darmezin and more
With 22 Rally2 machines entered, expect this class to deliver some of the closest, fiercest competition of the weekend.
GT+ Class Heats Up: Alpine vs Porsche
A headline in its own right, the GT+ category is brimming with excitement. Raphaël Astier & Denis Giraudet are the benchmark, but this grid is full of names with winning pedigree.
The big stories?
- The first-ever appearance of the Porsche 992 GT+ in French rallying, driven by Anthony Cosson & Kévin Millet
- Simon Jean-Joseph, Côme Ledogar, and Quentin Gilbert also return to the spotlight
- Alpine A110s in full attack mode, piloted by Cédric Robert, Ludovic Godard, and others
It’s classic power versus precision—and it’s going to be spectacular.
Stars of the Future: From Michelin to Rally2
The Michelin Amateur Trophy continues to deliver big. 2024 winner Thomas Capelli gets his moment in the spotlight, driving a Hyundai i20 N Rally2 for 2C Compétition. From Peugeot 208 Rally4 to top-tier Rally2—Capelli’s jump is proof this ladder system works.
Former winners Sarah Rumeau and Styve Juif will also fly the flag in Rally2 cars, adding even more weight to the trophy’s legacy.
Trophy Battles: Alpine and Clio Take Centre Stage
Two manufacturer-backed cups light up the entry list:
- Trophée Alpine Elf Rallye showcases A110 RGT and GT+ cars under a refreshed format
- Clio Trophy France explodes out the gates with 50 Renault Clio Rally5 entries—a record-breaking start to 2025
These one-make shootouts are always crowd favourites, delivering tight racing and surprise heroes.
CFR Féminin: Rumeau, Vidueira, and a New Generation
The CFR Féminin category is also looking fierce, with eight entries and big names leading the charge:
- Sarah Rumeau is the one to beat
- Mireille Vidueira, the 2023 champion, returns to spice things up
- Emma Chalvin, FFSA ambassador for women in motorsport, makes her competitive debut in the Clio Trophy France
- Charlotte Olea joins the charge in a grid that’s growing stronger every year
[…] spring-like weather and a large crowd lining the roadsides, the 77th edition of the Rallye Rhône-Charbonnières was a resounding success this weekend. For this second round of the 2025 French Rally Championship […]