Cévenol Nicolas Verdier wins his ninth Pompidou hill climb

Cédric Monziols climbs to 6th place overall, in Sport. Midi Libre – ALAIN LAURET

Laid off in Lozère, Joël Cazalens keeps his hand in Production. Midi Libre – ALAIN LAURET

Nicolas Verdier, Romain Gelly, Arnaud Marcillac, des copains d'abord. Midi Libre – ALAIN LAURET

The Pompidou hill climb was held this Sunday, September 15, 2024.

On the slopes of the Pompidou hill climb, held on Sunday, September 15, 2024, Nicolas Verdier, the driver from Saint-Roman-de-Tousque, hoisted his Dallara single-seater onto the highest step of the podium for the 9th time in Series A, the Sports Series.

But the task was more complicated than usual against the bodybuilder from Saint-Geniez-d'Olt, the fiery Arnaud Marcillac who finished 2 tenths behind winner.

The latter volubly commented on his final of the three races led at a cracking pace by ASA Lozère: “The Nova NP 03 is a fabulous car. We reach breathtaking speeds, the proof is that I'm still trembling. I know where I can win the race: it's at the start. The 1000 cm3 engine is so sharp that you can't set off without skidding in the first few metres. Nicolas, with a 2-litre engine with more torque, sets off like a bullet, without skidding. That doesn't take anything away from his talent, you don't win nine times by chance!”, Marcillac specified.

Verdier returned the compliment: “Arnaud is a good playmate. I finish each climb on the verge of suffocation. You really have to look after the car to keep a few tenths better!”“

Romain Gelly league champion

Behind them, Romain Gelly (Dallara F 303), the winemaker from Pic Saint-Loup, didn't have to force his talent here. “A 3rd place was enough for me to be definitively league champion, before the Néffiès race, in which I will participate, obviously. Nicolas is too far behind to overtake me."

6th overall, Lozérien Cédric Monziols (BRC 49) saves his victory in the CM protos clan by 9 hundredths (!) against Vauclusien Clément Linguet (BRC 5).

The Lozériens were mainly competing in Series B, the closed car series, and Séveracois Joël Cazalens and his Scora powered by an R5 Turbo engine stayed ahead despite strong opposition from Alésien Michaël Pérez (R8 Gordini super 1600) who only conceded 5 tenths.

Lozériens who didn't give up

Mendois Richard Simon, a regular in the French championship, took his 308 Racing Cup to the 3rd step of the overall podium and to the head of Group A against the Seat Supercopa of Catalan Fred Toubert. 3rd in this category, Dominique Monteil from Marvejol (Clio T) is 7th ahead of the winner of Group N, Jean-François Rives from Auvergne (BMW).

In the rest of the ranking, locals Jonathan Gout (Clio) and Quentin Affortit take the places of honour while Kévin Ricard (106 Rallye) grabs a new class victory at the end of a convincing 2024 season in the category.

73 competitors are ranked, which demonstrates the good health of this race which will not take place next year since the national final is on that date will be organized in La Canourgue.

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