The Hérault rally, with Rossel as favorite, launches the regional season

Vainqueur sortant, Léo Rossel revient en favori. J. Furet – Jacques Furet

Organisée par l’équipe de l’Asa Hérault, déjà en charge de la mise en œuvre du Critérium des Cévennes, cette septième édition demeure pour le reste très proche des précédentes.

It’time to hit the road again! This Sunday the Hérault rally kicks off the season at regional level with an event concentrated this year on a single day of racing. Organized by the Asa Hérault team, already in charge of the implementation of the Critérium des Cévennes, this seventh edition remains very close to the previous ones.

The two timed tests, to be carried out three times, remain unchanged and the general route is still structured around Bédarieux, location of the checks on Saturday then the departure the next day, Hérépian and Lamalou-les-Bains , which hosts the service park and the final finish.

Rossel big favorite

In the list of entrants (136 in total), one name stands out: that of Léo Rossel, big winner last year and once again announced as the overwhelming favorite of this edition with his teammate Guillaume Mercoiret. One week before the Touquet rally, where he will begin a second campaign in the French rally championship, the young Gardois will first be there to get his bearings.

"I haven't driven in a race since the Var rally last November. This Sunday, it will therefore be a good opportunity to find the right automation at the controls of the Citroën C3 Rally2", comments the one who today asserts himself among the safest French hopes.

Frontier the outsider

Engaged for the occasion on the family team's car, and not on the one he will find in Le Touquet with the support of the manufacturer, Léo Rossel therefore risks ;rsquo;be very difficult to follow. Among those who will try it despite everything include Hérault resident Alexis Frontier, now driving a Ford Fiesta Rally2, and Kevin Constanty (Citroën C3), present on the podium for the last two years.

Times: Sunday, departure from Bédarieux from 9:00 a.m., arrival in Lamalou-les-Bains from 5:30 p.m.