The Clio Trophy France Asphalte enters its home stretch. Added to the calendar as a replacement for Rallye Rouergue Rodez Aveyron Occitanie, the Rallye Cœur de France promises to deliver a thrilling show. While some contenders have chosen to use their wild card here, most of the favourites will be on the start line, underscoring the importance of every result in hopes of keeping their chances alive ahead of the season finale in the Cévennes.

On the back of two consecutive victories, Paul Dachicourt (Fun Meca Sport) has increased his lead in the general classification. The Pas-de-Calais native has his sights set on a hat-trick in the Loir-et-Cher to move even closer to the title. Also leading the Juniors’ category, where an official drive is up for grabs, he will draw upon his knowledge of the roads around Vendôme, where he finished in the top ten a year ago.

His rivals are determined to rekindle the suspense before it is too late. Romain Fostier (David Auto Compétition) will lead the challenge. Having scored his fifth podium finish in seven appearances at Morzine, the leader of the Gentlemen category will look to build on this momentum in a rally where he has lacked success since finishing fifth in 2020. Meanwhile, Maxence Potard (Gilbert Compétition) and Romain Brun (SKPB Compétition) will be keen to return to the podium – which they narrowly missed out on in the Alps – to keep their title hopes alive.

After coming within a hair’s breadth of the title last season, new father Julien Deslauriers-Sablonnière (Lycée Roger Claustre) is determined to rejoin the frontrunners in his return to the Clio Trophy France Asphalte after finishing second in the 2025 Rallye Cœur de France, just six seconds adrift of the winner. Other competitors are lying in wait and will use their experience on these roads to close the gap. Jérôme Janny (David Auto Compétition) is one to watch, as are Pascal Bérard, Jacques Bourrat, Laurent Lambert (Gazou Compétition) and Franck Giraud (Lycée Roger Claustre).

Building on their best result at Morzine, Léo Véricel and Fabien Combe want to confirm their rise in form with a first top-five finish. The same can be said of Néo Rivallant (Fun Meca Sport), whilst Louis Gass (PH Sport) will try to bounce back on roads where he finished ahead of the current trophy leader twelve months ago. Having also enjoyed a promising start to the season before getting caught out in the Alps, Tom Le Jossec (Rageau Sport Location) and the Dane Oliver Sørensen also want to get their campaigns back on track.

Thomas Van Outryve (LCS Location) and Maxence Girard (CHL Sport Auto) will attempt to demonstrate the full extent of their progress with a solid performance in a field completed by Baptiste Langlois (SKPB Compétition). The latter will make his debut in the Clio Trophy France Asphalte following several class victories in a Clio Rally5 in the French Cup.

Rallye Cœur de France Région Centre-Val de Loire will feature 13 special stages totalling 182.33 kilometres on a 510.35-kilometre route. On Saturday, competitors will contest two identical loops comprising three stages (Cellé, Bessé-sur-Braye and Bonneveau-Sougé) before a super-special stage in the Vendôme city centre. Sunday’s programme will continue with three stages run twice : Mazangé-Fortan, Savigny-sur-Braye and Sargé-sur-Braye, the route’s longest timed section at 22.1 km. Each of the final ten special stages will be worth up to five Jean Ragnotti Performer points, which could prove invaluable in the various title races.

The round will also showcase the prowess of Renault’s rally range in the French Rally Championship, with 5 Clio Rally3, 2 Clio Rally4 and 28 Clio Rally5 cars competing outside the trophy – a record for a round initially not on the calendar. Currently leading the Women’s class in Clio Trophy France Asphalte, Belgium’s Clémentine Benoit will make her debut in Renault’s four-wheel-drive car.

Entry list
#46 Paul Dachicourt – Adèle Dachicourt (J)
#47 Romain Fostier – Ophélie Abchiche (G)
#48 Maxence Potard – Maxime Biegalke (J)
#49 Romain Brun – Aurélia Chevalier (J)
#50 Jérôme Janny – Hélèna Pêcheur
#51 Julien Deslauriers-Sablonnière – Romain Depeux
#52 Léo Véricel – Jade Gaston (J)
#53 Fabien Combe – Fabien Chèze
#54 Néo Rivallant – Tom Joly (J)
#55 Louis Gass – Alison Girard (J)
#56 Tom Le Jossec – Christophe Leroy (J)
#57 Oliver Sørensen – Frederik Glad (J)
#58 Pascal Bérard – Caroline Bérard (G)
#59 Thomas Van Outryve – Johanna Della-Pina (J)
#60 Jacques Bourrat – Jean Bourrat (G)
#61 Maxence Girard – Ricardo Gil Mateus (J)
#62 Laurent Lambert – Céline Farnault (G)
#63 Franck Giraud – Christophe Dubien (G)
#64 Baptiste Langlois – Yael Lamont (J)