Castine Terre d’Occitanie set to deliver fireworks in second round of France’s CFRT 2025 championship

After a gripping opener at Terre des Causses, the French Gravel Rally Championship (CFRT) heads south to the rugged trails of the Lot for the Rallye Castine Terre d’Occitanie, the second round of the 2025 season. And if the entry list is anything to go by, this one’s set to be an all-out brawl on the loose stuff.

Held over the weekend of 2–4 May, the rally will see 170 crews tackle 12 demanding stages covering 130 competitive kilometres across picturesque Occitanie, with everything from modern Rally2 rockets to two-wheel-drive screamers, vintage VHC classics, and rising stars in SMRC4 going head-to-head on the challenging Castine terrain.

All eyes on Pellier – Can he double up?

Reigning Causses winner Laurent Pellier returns in his Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 run by 2C Yacco RS, aiming to repeat his dominant form. But standing in his way is a stacked Rally2 field, with two teammates from AMD Motorsport, Emmanuel Gascou and Pierre Lafay, also piloting Skoda Fabia RS entries and hungry for redemption.

The ever-formidable Sarrazin Motorsport Iron Lynx outfit brings firepower in the form of Pablo Sarrazin and Sarah Rumeau—both part of the Equipe de France FFSA Rallye and both keen to prove their pace in the Citroën C3 Rally2.

Adding to the mix are Pierre Ragues (Skoda Fabia RS), Charles Munster (Hyundai i20 Rally2 – Team BMA Motorsport), and Cédric Rabasse (Skoda Fabia RS – Sarrazin Motorsport), ensuring that Rally2 honours are well and truly up for grabs.

Don’t count out the underdogs

The Rally3 and Rally4 cars are never to be underestimated—especially in the hands of committed drivers like Michaël Lobry (Renault Clio Rally3 – PH Sport by Minerva Oil), Steven Brossard, and Jérôme Jacquot. Expect the Clio Rally3 to challenge far above its weight on these tight and technical roads.

Meanwhile, the Trophée National Terre Yacco and Trophée GT2i Terre FFSA bring a colourful mix of machinery to the stages, along with the ever-popular CFRT VHC class, which sees 17 vintage heroes ready to take on the gravel with old-school flair.

SMRC4: Rising stars on loose gravel

The only gravel round of the season for the SMRC4 (Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup) adds another layer of intrigue. 16 Peugeot 208 Rally4s and 2 Opel Corsa Rally4s will line up for battle, including big names like:

• Benjamin Stirling (PH Sport by Minerva Oil)
• Quentin Vialatte (2024 Rallye Jeunes FFSA Yacco winner – Sarrazin Motorsport Iron Lynx)
• Marijan Griebel
• Eliott Delecour
• Matteo Codaccioni
• Jean–Paul Monnin, a regular force in gravel-based formulas

They’ll be joined by local standouts like Loïc Astier, Sylvain Cachod, and Alizée Pottier, all of whom could spring surprises in this unpredictable and highly competitive series.

Revenge stories and rally redemption

In the VHC (historic) class, there’s a revenge arc to follow. After being beaten at Causses by Maxime Lafon (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo9), both Guy Bekaert and Jean-Luc Morel return with their Subaru Impreza N4s determined to claw back points and restore pride.

With top-tier teams, young talent, vintage classics, and over 400 km of action, including liaison, the Castine promises dust, drama, and maybe a new twist in the CFRT championship fight.

For full entry lists and updates, visit www.asacastine.fr.