The Rallye Terre de Vaucluse delivered a thrilling conclusion to the 2024 Championnat de France des Rallyes sur Terre (CFRT, French Gravel Rally Championship) as Laurent Pellier and co-driver Kévin Bronner claimed a hard-fought victory. Driving the Hyundai i20 Rally2 for Team Bonneton HDG 2C Compétition, Pellier and Bronner showcased resilience, bouncing back from early setbacks to secure a decisive win. This triumph not only capped off an impressive season for the pair but also underscored Pellier’s growing prowess on the French rally circuit.
A hard-earned victory
Pellier’s victory was anything but straightforward. Early in the rally, a spin in SS2 and a puncture in SS3 threatened to derail his race. However, the team recovered and performed flawless in the remaining stages, ultimately finishing with a comfortable margin over the competition.
Laurent Pellier, reflecting on his win, said, “We are very happy, and we were starting to have doubts before this victory came. This success rewards all the hard work and efforts of the team. Thanks to 2C Compétition, Pirelli, and Hyundai Motorsport. I’m not sure what the future holds; discussions are ongoing, but I’d love to return to this championship with its diverse and exciting events.”
Rossel and Sarrazin complete the podium
Léo Rossel and co-driver Lucie Baud claimed second place in their Citroën C3 Rally2 for Team PH Sport by Minerva Oil. Despite battling dust and gravel as the road opener, Rossel delivered a strong performance, setting two fastest times on the final day to secure his podium finish.
Léo Rossel remarked, “I knew after three years away from gravel that it would be tough, and it was. Starting at the front didn’t help, and I made some driving mistakes, but we really enjoyed every stage—I had a blast. Thanks to my partners for allowing me to be here. It’s great to share the podium with Pablo, as I used to be his mechanic in karting!”
Rounding out the top three were Pablo Sarrazin and Geoffrey Combe in their Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, competing under the Team Sarrazin Motorsport – Iron Lynx banner. Sarrazin’s impressive pace marked him as a future star in rally racing, especially given his limited experience with the Škoda.
Pablo Sarrazin shared, “It’s just incredible. We worked hard to achieve this result, and I want to thank the entire team for their great work. Now we’re focusing on the Rallye du Var, and then it’s time to prepare for 2025.”
Standout performances
The Rallye Terre de Vaucluse also saw impressive drives from Pierre Ragues and Charles Munster, who secured fourth and fifth places, respectively. Ragues continued his season-long improvement, while Munster, returning to the CFRT after a brief absence, showed competitive form. Hugo Louvel took sixth, narrowly avoiding a potential disaster in the final stage after a puncture.
For Emmanuel Gascou, it was a weekend of learning with his new Škoda Fabia RS Rally2. He finished seventh after a challenging first day marked by driver errors. Former French Rally Champion Lionel Baud faced mechanical issues with his DS 3 WRC, losing any chance of a top finish early on due to brake failure.
2-Wheel Drive and Trophée National Terre Yacco champions
In the 2-Wheel Drive Championship, Tom Pellerey took the win in his Renault Clio Rally5, finishing ahead of Sylvain Cachod and Maxime Lafon in their Peugeot 208 Rally4s. While the season title remains undecided, Pellerey’s victory puts him in a strong position.
The Trophée National Terre Yacco was won by Jean-Luc Morel in a Subaru Impreza N4 on home soil. However, Guy Bekaert secured the overall trophy for the season with a third-place finish, while Yannick Lopez claimed the runner-up spot.
Final Results
01: L. Pellier/K. Bronner (Hyundai i20 N Rally2) – 1h 24m 35.4s
02: L. Rossel/L. Baud (Citroën C3 Rally2) + 37.8s
03: P. Sarrazin/G. Combe (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) + 48.7s
04: P. Ragues/J. Pesenti (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) + 1m 04.4s
05: C. Munster/L. Dumont (Hyundai i20 N Rally2) + 1m 04.9s
06: H. Louvel/E. Mahinc (Škoda Fabia Rally2 evo) + 1m 43.4s
07: E, Gascou/G. De Turckheim (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) + 2m 11.6s
08: C. Rabasse/S. Rabasse (Škoda Fabia R5) + 2m 32.8s
09: S. Rumeau/J. Amblard (Ford Fiesta Rally2) + 2m 55.1s
10: J-M. Falco/P. Delorme (Škoda Fabia R5) + 3m 05.5s
