Automobile: Dorian Nicolas and Enzo Lombardi (Citroën C3) in mastery at the 41st Rallye Cigalois

Le Lasallois Dorian Nicolas (Citröen C3), copiloté par l’Alésien Enzo Lombardi, a remporté le Rallye Cigalois, comme en 2023. Midi Libre – Alain Lauret

Lasalle driver Dorian Nicolas and his Alès co-driver Enzo Lombardi dominated the proceedings on Saturday, during the 41st edition of the Rallye Cigalois. Behind them, the fight was tough.

On Saturday 14 December, in Saint-Hippolyte-du-Fort, Lasallois Dorian Nicolas (Citroën C3), co-driven by Alésien Enzo Lombardi, found the path to victory, achieving a perfect race on a muddy and slippery terrain.

Puncture and retirement for Vivens

Starting fastest from the Fressac ES, the C3 Rally2 driver remained more cautious in the Cadière bends. Yannick Vivens took advantage of this, leaving Pascal Enjolras 6 seconds behind and Nicolas 16, demonstrating that the DS3 Rally2, rebuilt in a month, has lost none of its effectiveness.

With a 6-second lead, he could have had his eye on the top step of the podium. But in “Pompignan”, he had a puncture and finished on the disc of a front wheel, with a shredded rim. It was retirement. From then on, Nicolas managed his race to win.

Enjolras-Puppo, nice mano a mano

Behind, Montpellier’s Pascal Enjolras, short of competition, second for a moment, could not avoid letting Anthony Puppo from Nice pass, at the wheel of the second Hyundai. The latter, at the cost of a last scratch in the Cévennes night, finished 8 seconds behind Nicolas’ C3. “I’m subscribed to second place, this season. I'm going to get the jokes from my team again…”

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It's a sharp Romain Durand (Clio RC3) who returned to rallying after a three-year hiatus. Midi Libre – Alain Lauret

Romain Durand, the performance of the day

Behind the three Rally2s, sharpened after three years of stopping, Romain Durand, 4th, had a great race. Pointing, at the end of the first two laps, with destroyed tires, he only had rain tires for the last two specials. It was the right choice since it contained the Polo Rally2 of Bruno Ginhoux from Ardèche.

Florent Pueyo fought until the end

In the Gard clan, Lionel Nicolas, 16th overall, was unable to compete with the youngsters of the Coupe 208 where Florent Pueyo, a worthy descendant of a line of Nîmes drivers (his mother Nathalie Rouché and his uncle Michel Rouché) and following in the footsteps of his father Philippe, fought until the end to win the two-wheel drive and FRC4 classification, finishing 7 seconds behind the reference, Jérémie Sérieys.

Florent Pueyo finished second in the two-wheel drive and FRC4. Midi Libre – Alain Lauret

In the FRC5 group, Yann and Sonia Liautard took the prize with a Clio 5. Nicolas Bartholomé put in a great performance in N2 S, ahead of the immovable leader of N2, local Patrick Mila.

Great success in historic rallies

In Historic (VHC), we wondered if Bertrand Fassio would resist the pack of Sierras and other M3s. He didn't fail, finishing with a large lead over Pascal Brunel (Sierra). At his side, Gérard Authebon experienced intense happiness: “I am impressed. “Fasse”, that's a good one!” Indeed, Authebon certainly considered the road head-on but rather saw it “through the doors”, as they say in automotive jargon.

In this “backing” rally, Claude Sérafino snatched a fine 7th place overall with a Porsche 911 not really cut out for sliding. Olivier Salelles hoists his agile R5 Alpine group 2 to 9th place, surrounded by the two Ford Escorts of Frédéric Agrélo and Fabrice Vayssette.

In the VHRS Rally (sporting regularity), Salindrois Roger and Emilie Merle (205 Rallye) win ahead of the R5GT of Christophe and Brigitte Cheynet.