Mika, how did your career begin ?
My father passed on his passion for rallying to me. He used to compete himself, and I started with a driving course at Drive Control when I was 14. The following year, I made my competitive debut and was twice runner-up in the Madagascan slalom championship. Then I competed in my very first rally at the age of 18. It was the year of COVID, so there were only two events on the calendar. I completed my first ‘proper’ full season in 2021.

And the results came straight away... Did you expect to be so successful so quickly ?
I won the Madagascar Championship and remain the youngest driver to do so, having been 18 at the time. Right from my very first outings, I always wanted to win. And despite retiring from the first rally, I was back the next day, set several fastest times, and realised I had potential. We then worked extremely hard on my driving, the car and our preparation. After finishing third in a high-coefficient round in which I lost a wheel, the title was decided in the final round. It was a very intense experience that started whole new thoughts for whatever was next.

How did you go from Madagascar to the Clio Trophy France Terre ?
We went to Rallye Cœur de France, where I met up with friends who were already living in France. One of them was my twin brother’s co-driver, Judicael. He had heard about the Clio Trophy and suggested we give it a go. We were interested and met Jérémy, Fun Meca Sport team manager, who took us under his wing. On paper, moving from Rally2 to Rally5 may seem like a step backwards, but it helped me improve enormously. Everyone has the same car in a feeder series : only your driving and hard work make the difference. During my first special stage at Terre des Causses in 2022, I posted the fourth-fastest time, which felt like a wake-up call. Even though I was the Madagascan champion, I had to re-evaluate myself. That stage was decisive in my development as a driver.

What do you remember most about your first outings in France ?
It was an eye-opener. The championship, the reconnaissance runs, the organisation... Everything was new to me. I also remember my first fastest time in Clio Trophy France Terre, in the Terre des Causses Power Stage, and then our first ‘brotherly’ podium finish. I finished second and my brother third at Langres. It was a great moment for us both. The second season saw us go from strength to strength. And in 2024, I was regularly in the top three, battling with Tom Pellerey and Benjamin Boulenc before retiring. The performances were there, but we were a bit unlucky.

In 2025, however, everything fell into place right from the start...
Everything went as we had hoped in the first three rounds. We scored almost the maximum number of points, thanks in particular to the “performer” points. We immediately took the lead in each of these events, winning between 5 and 6 of the 10 special stages.

Then came Rallye Terre des Cardabelles...
I hadn’t competed in this rally for two years. During recce, we didn’t notice a compression in SS7. Going flat out, the rear end lifted, and we ended up in the trees after several rolls and contact with an historic car that had already gone off. The car was destroyed, but my co-driver Mélissa and I got off fairly unscathed.

And the title was still possible going into the final round...
We were one point ahead of our teammate, Anaël Cayla. As the rules only count the four best results, my accident counted as my worst score. We did all the calculations : to win the title, we had to either finish ahead of him or finish just behind him, while scoring points in at least five special stages. At Rallye Terre de Vaucluse, the first day was eventful with a puncture, but the scenario remained in our favour. The next morning, I received a call informing me that Anaël had retired. All I had to do was finish, so we completed the final three timed sectors without taking any risks.

How difficult was it to navigate the Clio Trophy France Terre points system ?
It’s very complex, because you can win by a minute, but score fewer points than a driver ranked second if he performs better on the points-scoring special stages. At Rallye Terre des Cardabelles, for example, we were ahead by less than 10 seconds and pushing hard until that compression, so it is always a challenge to find the right balance between attacking and managing, especially over the length of a championship.

You are among the youngest winners in the trophy’s history, and the first non-French driver to win the Clio Trophy France. Does this exceed your initial expectations ?
Yes, definitely. I realised early on that it would be a long journey. In Madagascar, I didn’t analyse my onboard videos as much as I do here, since I only did one season there, but I didn’t work as hard either. I discovered a new level of discipline. The potential was always there, but it took years of work to realise it. Today, this title is the culmination of all those efforts.

Did your change of co-driver play a key role in your success ?
As Bastien Pouget was busier this season, I relied on Mélissa Declerck, who had already won the title with Quentin Ribaud. Her experience was decisive. She helped me mature. When I took too many risks, she knew how to calm me down and channel my energy. And often, after that, we still set the fastest time, even though I could have crashed if I had continued as I had started. Clearly, that made a difference.

Tell us about your relationship with your brother Faniry.
He’s my twin brother, and we’ve always competed against each other, from our first slalom races to Clio Trophy France Terre. In the car, we’re rivals, but outside of it, we bring a lot to each other. We have different styles, but they complement each other nicely. Jérémy really emphasised the fact that we had to complement each other. Even though he didn’t compete in Clio Trophy France Terre this year, he helped me a lot by pointing out certain tricky areas when he was competing in higher classes or simply watching. He acted a bit like a gravel crew, and thanks to him, I clearly avoided some mistakes. This bond is an asset, and I think we will rely on it even more in the future.

What are your current strengths and where do you think you still have room for improvement ?
Now I have more experience on French rallies, I can fully express my driving skills. I have also learned to trust my notes completely and to give it my all from the very first loop. However, I still need to improve my race management. Managing doesn’t mean slowing down ; it means assessing the level of risk without dropping out of the top three. If you look at my statistics, you can see that I score a lot of points on the first day, then half as many on the second. I need to keep working on that.

Your thoughts about the Clio Rally5 ?
It’s a good little car on gravel, offering an excellent compromise. It’s very similar to the road-going car, with only a few chassis adjustments, but it can clock times very close to, or even faster than, those of the Rally4 cars when driven well.

To conclude, what are your hopes for the future ?
I would like to discover the world championship, like Tom Pellerey or Arthur Pelamourgues, this year. Even a few rounds would be a dream come true. I would also like to discover tarmac, regardless of the Clio. Whatever happens, I will remain true to my philosophy of life : God’s Plan. I am a believer, so I do my part, and the rest is up to God.