A REVIEW OF THE RALLYE DU CHABLAIS

Michaël Burri and Anderson Levratti make it two out of two in the Clio R3T ALPS TROPHY

Michaël Burri and Anderson Levratti came out on top in a keenly contested second round of the 2015 Clio R3T Alps Trophy. The eagerly awaited duel between Olivier Courtois and Michaël Burri went the way of the Alsatian driver early on, only for him to hit a rock on SS2, forcing him to retire.

“It was raining a lot during the reconnaissance runs and the tunnel we have to go through at the start of the special was really wet. As a result, we failed to spot water trickling down the road at the left turn at the entrance. The road was dry when it came to the race and we lost the front of our Clio R3T on that stream and hit a rock. It took the front wheel right off and we had no option but to retire. It’s a shame but it’s my responsibility and no one else’s,” said a disappointed Olivier Courtois. With Courtois out of the race, Michaël Burri kept things together to collect maximum points and further boost his bid to qualify for the final of the Clio R3T European Trophy, to be held as part of the 2016 Rallye Monte-Carlo. Up for grabs at that final is a six-event programme in next year’s WRC 3 at the wheel of a Renault Sport Technologies’ Renault Clio R3T.

Jean-Pierre Gatti and Bertrand Chagot endured a testing weekend in finishing second at the Rallye du Chablais. Struggling with the shock absorber set-up in their Renault Clio R3T, they found balance elusive and had little feel on what were uniquely testing roads. By the closing stages, however, they had got back on track and finished in confident fashion, taking the runners-up spot ahead of Toni Buemi and Steve Niederhauser. “I had a lot of fun at the wheel of the Renault Clio R3T,” said Buemi afterwards. “After four seasons without a drive it was hard to jump right back into competition, and the Clio R3T has got so much potential that it was hard for me to get everything out of it on these narrow, tricky roads. We’ve had a great time, though, and there’s a really good buzz around the Clio R3T Alps Trophy. We don’t have a budget and it’s going to be hard for us to compete in other rounds, but if we can get some partners in place, I’d be absolutely delighted to take part in another event this season.”

Check out the Clio R3T Alps Trophy standings as the qualification battle for the final of the 2015 Clio R3T European Trophy starts to hot up.

Clio R3T Alps Trophy classification en tant que série qualificative pour la sélection à la Finale du Clio R3T European Trophy 2015.

The next rounds of the Clio R3T ALPS Trophy will take place on 26-27 June, at the Rallye Ronde del Ticino, which starts in Lugano.

Photos, news and behind-the-scenes info :
● Clio R3T Alps Trophy : available at the official Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ClioR3TAlpsTrophy and at the official competition page http://www.clior3.com