Rallye Terre de Lozère: after the first special stages, Matthieu and Mathilde Margaillan emerge victorious

Hugo Louvel achieves a top-notch performance for a first with the Yaris Rally2 ALAIN LAURET

A 17'' du leader, Laurent Pellier (Hyundai I20 Rally2) n'a pas dit son dernier mot. – ALAIN LAURET ECHAPPEMENT

The first special stages of the 13th Terre de Lozère rally took place on Saturday 31 August 2024, around Mende. 

Saturday, August 31, 2024, on the special stages of the first stage of the Terre de Lozère, in the heights of Barjac and Chanac, an important episode of the French gravel rally championship was played out, as has been the tradition for several years. For Matthieu and Mathilde Margaillan, in the lead with two victories, it was a question of continuing on this trajectory against the two “youngsters”, Laurent Pellier (Hyundai) and Florent Todeschini (C3), determined to challenge the supremacy of the veterans. And Margaillan didn't really make any detail.   "I had a very busy week of work. Not really time to work on the videos. So we had to drive without making a mistake. Everything went well except for a slow puncture in SS5 and some worrying noises from the turbo in SS3. We will stay focused tomorrow."

Todeschini retires, Pellier resists well

If he wins, he would take a major option for the title. Behind him, Laurent Pellier, who will be present at the Mont Blanc rally (asphalt championship) next week, replacing Hugo Margaillan, remains a formidable driver. We had seen him shine in the promotion cups before he distinguished himself in the European championship. He is the only one to stay in contact, 17 seconds behind. “On the climb of Goudard, on the 2nd pass, the dust was stagnant. I was not able to attack like the morning when we signed the scratch. But nothing is definitively decided”, specified the Savoyard at the end of the last time trial. Third thief in the story, Florent Todeschini unfortunately lost everything yesterday, when the transmission of his C3 Rally2 failed (SS2).

Hugo Louvel quickly in the game

Behind them is the gap. Manu Gascou (Skoda Rally2) who had not driven for 4 months has gone crescendo. With a 9-second deficit, he can play for 3rd place with the Alésien Benjamin Clémençon (Polo Rally2) who contains two other competitors, the ex-track rider Pierre Raguès (Skoda Rally2 RS2) and the formidable Hugo Louvel. The latter is returning to competition after 2 years of inactivity at the wheel of a Yaris Rally2 for which this is the first appearance in the French championship. And he did not hold back since he set the 3rd time in SS5. “It was the only one that wasn't too wrecked yet. I took advantage of it”. Tomorrow he will be a formidable opponent for his club buddy, Clémençon. If it weren't for a failed start (SS1), Sarah Rumeau (Fiesta) was playing with these four! Delayed by engine problems, Marvejolas' Eric Rousset took the “grandmother” C4 to 7th place. He lost time when he found himself behind Florian Condamines who had just broken a ball joint (SS2). In the Stellantis Cup, Pablo Sarrazin, 19, is 3rd and will be at the start of Mont Blanc with a Polo Rally2. Blood will never lie!

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