Roché makes it back-to-back wins!

Eleven competitors lined up at the start, and all eleven made it to the end, further proof of the unfaltering reliability of the A110 Rally. Ludovic Goard was first off the mark, winning the opening stage before being dislodged from the lead by Vincent Leduc on SS2. Leduc held onto first place until Pierre Roché, alongside his co-driver and mother Martine, struck a telling blow on the formidable Campouriez-Florentin-Le Nayrac stage (SS5) which, at over thirty-three kilometres, is the longest test of the rally. They finished some 26s ahead of their closest rivals, grabbing the lead with style and authority. They collected a further four stage wins to remain clear of the rest of the field and go on to claim a second consecutive victory in the Trophy, following their recent win at the Rallye d’Antibes, at the rally where they secured an overall win in 2011.

Ninth overall, they were joined on the Trophy podium by Leduc-Puel and Godard-Bole Richard, whilst Jean-François Mourgues, who led the drivers’ standings coming into the Aveyron round, finished in fourth place. It is also worth noting the superb performance of Raphaël Astier, who was not competing in the Trophy at the rally. The talented driver, who finished third recently at the Pikes Peak Hill Climb (in an Alpine A110 specially designed for the event), this time showed the considerable competitiveness of the A110 Rally by finishing third overall, up against a host of four-wheel drive cars. Yet another first class performance! The Alpine ELF Rally Trophy competitors will next cross swords at the Rallye Mont-Blanc Morzine (31 August – 2 September), another heavyweight challenge from the French Rally Championship.