Rallye Antibes Cote d'Azur

Tight battle at the forefront in TER W Series Round 2 Rallye Antibes - Côte d'Azur

19.05.2023

Bonato overtakes Margaillan in the day’s final test

 

The opening day of Rallye Antibes - Côte d'Azur, round 2 of the new TER W Series, featured plenty of sporting action over the World Class stages of the mountains overlooking the French Riviera. In the morning loop, wet conditions made tyre choice difficult; the challenge increased in the afternoon with drier weather and varying grip levels.

 

The 4-time French Tarmac Champion Yoann Bonato, with Benjamin Boulloud in a Citroën C3 Rally2 climbed into the overnight lead thanks to another great time in the event’s longest stage, where he was fastest in the morning loop. Their team mates, 2019 French Junior Champion Hugo Margaillan and Laetitia Marsault, had a great start to the day: winning the first two tests, they matched their rivals’ pace to complete the opening day in second, only 1.3 seconds from the lead.

 

Completing a Citroën-gridlocked podium, former WRC driver Eric Camilli, codriven by Thibault De La Haye, took one stage win to build a solid gap on his pursuers.

 

The Alpine A110 Rally of 2-time RGT Cup Winner Raphaël Astier and Denis Giraudet, fastest in SS6, holds fourth and leads the RGT category, in front of the sister car of Cédric Robert, codriven by Matthieu Duval, who set the best overall time on SS4.

 

The final day of Rallye Antibes - Côte d'Azur consists of six more stages for just over 107 kms of competition.

Photo Julien Perez