ALPINE ELF RALLY TROPHY, SEASON 3!

Following the success of theircustomer-competition activities, Alpine and Signature are renewing the AlpineElf Rally Trophy for a third edition. Always anticipating the needs ofcompetitors, the organisers have nevertheless decided to make a few adjustmentsto consolidate the growing appeal of the Alpine A110 Rally.

Amongst these, a new class will debut with theChallenger category, reserved for competitors born in 1974 or later, beingexcluded from the FIA and FFSA priority drivers and running on commercial fuel.Drivers born earlier and meeting the same criteria will compete in theGentleman class while crews using racing fuel will only be eligible for the overallclassification.

Meanwhile, the calendar continues to feature sixrounds that echo the rich history of Alpine. After kicking off at the Rallye Rhône-Charbonnières,the crews will head to the Rallye Antibes Côte d'Azur and the Rallye AveyronRouergue Occitanie before the summer break. The second half of the season willbegin with the Rallye Mont-Blanc Morzine. The competitors will then gather atthe Rallye Cœur de France, followed by the season-finale at Rallye du Var.

A field more competitivethan ever

Julien Saunier's successor in the Alpine ElfRally Trophy, Gregory Fontalba will return to defend his crown this weekend.

After three victories in six starts during hiswinning campaign, the title-holder will be keen to double his tally with aneven more accomplished season. However, he knows the competition will bewaiting for him. Among his rivals are last year's runner-up Fabrice Bect,winner of the final round and crowned in the Gentlemen category in 2022. Thelist of contenders will be extensive though, as the two drivers will also faceRomuald Lamboley, determined to reach new heights, and Bertrand Fassio, anexperienced and skilled driver supported by the RGT team.

On the podium for his debut last year, the 2001French Gravel Rally Champion Jean-François Mourgues will also be one to watch,as will several newcomers. Having won several French Rally Cup events with theAlpine A110 RGT, Ludovic Godard may well spring a surprise, as could the versatileJérémy Crétien, Romain Haut-Labourdette and Vincent Leduc, all three able towin right from this weekend.

The favourites will have to keep an eye on EricGiannini and two drivers from the front-wheel ranks, Eric Royère and ÉlodieGines, entered thanks to her Best Female title in Clio Trophy France Asphaltelast year. Other drivers will launch their campaign later, such as PierreRoché, a front-runner in the French Rally Championship who will enter the arenain Antibes.

Unparalleled incentives

To ensure technical fairness for all, Signaturewill provide a dedicated team to provide support at every round of the trophy. Onthe sporting side, the five best results will establish the final generalclassification.

Thanks to long-standing Alpine Elf Rally Trophypartners Elf and Michelin, more than €8,000 in prize money will be on offer ateach round. The future winner will receive €5,000 and €5,000 in parts vouchers.Challenger and Gentlemen categories winners will also receive a set of Michelintyres at each round and a €5,000 parts voucher at the end of the year.

Lastly, teams competing in the Alpine Elf RallyTrophy are automatically entered in the FFSA French Two-Wheel DriveChampionship, in which Cédric Robert, Raphaël Astier and Quentin Gilbert madeit an all-Alpine podium last month on the Le Touquet Rally. A new prestigiouscompetitor will also join the ranks of the A-arrowed brand this week, with 2014Junior World Rally Champion and Junior European Rally Champion Stéphane Lefebvre.

2023 calendar

20-22 AprilRallye Rhône Charbonnières

18-20 MayRallye AntibesCôte d’Azur

6-8 JulyRallye Aveyron Rouergue Occitanie

30 August - 2 SeptemberRallye Mont-Blanc Morzine

29 September - 1 OctoberRallye Cœur de France

23-26 NovemberRallye du Var