After Le Touquet, Vosges, Mont-Blanc and Cœur de France, the seventh season of the Clio Trophy France Asphalte with Clio Rally5 concludes next week in the Cévennes. These roads will decide a campaign where every point counts, with a 1.5 multiplier that could weigh heavily on the final general classification.

After three consecutive victories, Paul Dachicourt (Fun Meca Sport) is well placed for the season finale. The Pas-de-Calais native aims to add his name to the list of title winners, which includes Anthony Fotia, Romain Di-Fante, Thomas Chauffray, Benjamin Stirling, Arthur Pelamourgues and Yoan Corberand. Also leading the Jean Ragnotti classification, he could secure the official programme reserved for the best Junior. Still, he will need to finish the job on a demanding route, where the slightest mistake could prove costly.

Facing him, Maxence Potard (PH Sport) is determined to fight back. Although he no longer controls his fate, the FFSA’s Collectif France Rallye member can still shake up the hierarchy with a strong performance. He will try to score as many points as possible to keep the suspense alive until the end and to help Groupe Bertrand’s ambitions in the Renault Network Challenge.

Behind the two title contenders, Romain Fostier (David Auto Compétition) enters this final round with several objectives. He can secure the Gentlemen’s title ahead of Pascal Bérard, Jacques Bourrat, Franck Giraud and Laurent Lambert (Gazou Compétition). He will also target a maiden victory, drawing on his experience in the Cévennes and the Clio Trophy France Asphalte, to help Garage Jamet retake the lead in the Renault Network Challenge and strengthen his chances of finishing runner-up to the eventual winner.

Meanwhile, Jérôme Janny (David Auto Compétition) will look to build on his first podium finish at Vendôme. Last year’s Rally5 class winner in the Cévennes, Yohan Roumieux (JLA Rally), will also be one to watch after returning to the podium at Mont-Blanc. Léo Véricel, Louis Gass (PH Sport) and Tom Le Jossec (Rageau Sport Location), meanwhile, will tackle these roads for the first time, hoping to turn their speed into a maiden podium finish.

Other competitors will also be keen to show their progress. Among them, Thomas Van Outryve (LCS Location) and Maxime Chagot (LCS Location) will aim to take their racing to the next level by breaking into the top ten, a position Thomas Santiago (LCS Location) and Loan Guibal (Salvi Compétition) will try to reclaim. Amaury Pagès and Alexis Poso (Salvi Compétition) will hope to end the season on a high. Meanwhile, Damien Vincent will make his first appearance of the year following several victories in the French Rally Cup. Robin Duarte, N2S class winner of the French Rally Cup Final two years ago, will make his debut, as will Tanguy Valette.

The 67th Critérium des Cévennes will also host three Clio Rally3 and four Clio Rally5 entries outside the trophy series. The route includes 16 special stages over 201.14 kilometres. On Friday, two identical loops of three timed stages will open the action. The following day, five stages await the competitors, including ‘Les 5 Cols’, a gruelling 53.45 km challenge. On Sunday, three special stages and a super-special stage in Montpellier will close the season’s final round before the evening’s prize-giving ceremony.

Entry list
#40 Paul Dachicourt – Adèle Dachicourt (J)
#41 Maxence Potard – Maxime Biegalke (J)
#42 Romain Fostier – Ophélie Abchiche (G)
#43 Jérôme Janny – Hélèna Pêcheur
#44 Yohan Roumieux – Bastien Fontaine
#45 Léo Véricel – Jade Gaston (J)
#46 Louis Gass – Alison Girard (J)
#47 Tom Le Jossec – Christophe Leroy (J)
#48 Loan Guibal – Lohan Ranchard (J)
#49 Thomas Santiago – Sarah Pernet-Coudrier (J)
#50 Pascal Bérard – Caroline Bérard (G)
#51 Maxime Chagot – Bertrand Chagot
#52 Thomas Van Outryve – Johanna Della-Pina (J)
#53 Jacques Bourrat – Jean Bourrat (G)
#54 Damien Vincent – Frédéric Vincent (J)
#55 Alexis Poso – Stéphane Maille (J)
#56 Franck Giraud – Christophe Dubien (G)
#57 Robin Duarte – Paul Bernie (J)
#58 Laurent Lambert – Grégory Poitevin (G)
#59 Amaury Pagès – Mattis Chalvidan (J)
#60 Tanguy Valette – Alexandre Tricou (J)