Clio Trophy Spain Tierra & Spanish Gravel Rally Championship

The opening round of the Spanish Gravel Rally Championship, the Rallye Tierras Altas de Lorca, kicked off edition four of the Clio Trophy Spain Tierra. Newcomers to the Clio Rally5 series, Tomás Llinares and David Villa led from start to finish to prevail over Jaime López and David Fernández. Salvador España and Gema Cañero completed the podium in Murcia. Runners-up in the trophy for the past two seasons, Jordi Nualart and Daniel Rivera proved unbeatable in the higher category, winning the two-wheel-drive class with a Clio Rally4. The next round takes place at Rallye de Pozoblanco (1–2 May).

More information here.

NACAM Rally Championship & Mexican Rally Championship

The Aguascalientes Rally served as a joint season opener for both North American continental competitors and the Mexican national championship. In their Clio Rally5, Carlos Martinez and Mauricio Pimental finished sixth overall and first in the Rally5 category. Both competitions will meet again at the RAC 1000 Rally on 2 and 3 May.

Austrian Rally Championship

Already a winner at the Jännerrallye, Clio Rally3 claimed another win in Austria at the Rebenland Rallye. Günther Knobloch and Erik Fürst finished ninth overall, outpacing Roland Stengg and Rebeka Kobal, as well as Manuel Wurm and Stefan Hackl, to complete an all Clio RC3 podium. This result also delivered a second consecutive Austrian Rally Cup victory for Clio Rally3.

Danish Rally Championship

The Danish championship made a stop in Germany for round two of the season on the tarmac stages of the ADAC Rallye Südholstein. Clio Rally3 shone once again, with Carsten Jensen and Michael Fasterholdt securing fourth place overall. Also in the top five, Kim and Tobias Abildgaard secured a one-two finish for the model in RC3. Meanwhile, Jacob Pallesen and Karsten Isaksen led a Clio Rally5 sweep of the top eight in RC5.

Uruguayan Rally Championship

Renault began its title defence at the Rally de Rocha with a flawless performance. Luigi Contin and Cecilia Cedrés secured top honours, finishing ahead of five Clio Rally5 crews. The most represented car in the rally, Clio Rally5 also claimed the RC4N class win and completed the overall podium with Pablo Cuadrado - Leonardo Fernández and Ignacio Gardiol - Santiago Cabrera. Rounding out the successful weekend, Pablo Rezk and Gustavo González took the Master category win in their Clio Rally5.

And elsewhere

In Germany, Timo and Jasmin Weigert made a strong impression, securing a class victory and fourth place overall at the ADAC Rallye Hutthurm in their Clio Rally3. Daniel and Sandra Wittner also won again in their Clio Rally5 at the ADAC rthb Rallye Hessisches Bergland.

Clio Rally3 and Clio Rally5 also starred in Belgium, with Thibaud Mazuin - Samuel Maillen and David Dardenne - Didier Peeters winning their respective classes at Rallye des Ardennes. Meanwhile, Nicolas Vanderweerde and Thierry Closter finished on the RC4 podium with Clio Rally4.

The same success was seen in Italy, where Clio Rally3 and Clio Rally5 set the pace at the Motors Rally Show Pavia with Omar Marangoni - Nicolò Barla and Nicola Guglielmetti - Gabriele Rebecchi. Clio Rally3 also won with Fabrizio Martinis - Valentina Boi at the Artugna Race, as did Clio Rally5 with Alessandro Silvaggi - Giancarla Guzzi at the Rally Sulcis Iglesiente and with Michele Falezza - Giulia Tomasi at Rally del Bardolino.

Over in Portugal, Clio Rally4 and Clio Rally5 shone on the tarmac of the Rali Marítimo Município de Machico at the Madeira Rally Championship season-opener. Emanuel Martins and João Camacho finished in the top ten, and runner-up in RC4 and in the two-wheel-drive category, whilst André Freitas and Agostinho Bettencourt won the RC5 class to claim the Rafael Costa Trophy.

Lastly, Clio Rally3 was unlucky in the United States despite recording a stage win overall at the Rally in the 100 Acre Wood. Leading the event after SS4, Sean Johnston and Cameron Fair then overcame several challenges to regain second place in their class before retiring on the penultimate special stage.