ALPINE ELF RALLY TROPHY, SEASON 3!

Created following the Alpine A110 Rally debut, the Alpine Elf Rally Trophy provides a dedicated framework for experienced competitors, young hopefuls and gentlemen drivers seeking enjoyment on France's most beautiful special stages. A testimony to Alpine's reaffirmed commitment to rallying, a discipline in which the brand won the first-ever World Championship in 1973, the Alpine Elf Rally Trophy was an immediate success and has become an essential element in the French motorsport landscape.

New features in 2023

Following the success of their customer-competition activities, Alpine and Signature are renewing the Alpine Elf Rally Trophy for a third edition. Always anticipating the needs of competitors, the organisers have nevertheless decided to make a few adjustments to consolidate the growing appeal of the Alpine A110 Rally.

Amongst these, a new class will debut with the Challenger category, reserved for competitors born in 1974 or later, being excluded from the FIA and FFSA priority drivers and running on commercial fuel. Drivers born earlier and meeting the same criteria will compete in the Gentleman class while crews using racing fuel will only be eligible for the overall classification.

Meanwhile, the calendar continues to feature six rounds that echo the rich history of Alpine. After kicking off at the Rallye Rhône-Charbonnières, the crews will head to the Rallye Antibes Côte d'Azur and the Rallye Aveyron Rouergue Occitanie before the summer break. The second half of the season will begin with the Rallye Mont-Blanc Morzine. The competitors will then gather at the Rallye Cœur de France, followed by the season-finale at Rallye du Var.

A field more competitive than ever

Julien Saunier's successor in the Alpine Elf Rally Trophy, Gregory Fontalba will return to defend his crown this weekend.

After three victories in six starts during his winning campaign, the title-holder will be keen to double his tally with an even more accomplished season. However, he knows the competition will be waiting for him. Among his rivals are last year's runner-up Fabrice Bect, winner of the final round and crowned in the Gentlemen category in 2022. The list of contenders will be extensive though, as the two drivers will also face Romuald Lamboley, determined to reach new heights, and Bertrand Fassio, an experienced and skilled driver supported by the RGT team.

On the podium for his debut last year, the 2001 French Gravel Rally Champion Jean-François Mourgues will also be one to watch, as will several newcomers. Having won several French Rally Cup events with the Alpine A110 RGT, Ludovic Godard may well spring a surprise, as could the versatile Jérémy Crétien, Romain Haut-Labourdette and Vincent Leduc, all three able to win right from this weekend.

The favourites will have to keep an eye on Eric Giannini and two drivers from the front-wheel ranks, Eric Royère and Élodie Gines, entered thanks to her Best Female title in Clio Trophy France Asphalte last year. Other drivers will launch their campaign later, such as Pierre Roché, a front-runner in the French Rally Championship who will enter the arena in Antibes.

Unparalleled incentives

To ensure technical fairness for all, Signature will provide a dedicated team to provide support at every round of the trophy. On the sporting side, the five best results will establish the final general classification.

Thanks to long-standing Alpine Elf Rally Trophy partners Elf and Michelin, more than €8,000 in prize money will be on offer at each round. The future winner will receive €5,000 and €5,000 in parts vouchers. Challenger and Gentlemen categories winners will also receive a set of Michelin tyres at each round and a €5,000 parts voucher at the end of the year.

Lastly, teams competing in the Alpine Elf Rally Trophy are automatically entered in the FFSA French Two-Wheel Drive Championship, in which Cédric Robert, Raphaël Astier and Quentin Gilbert made it an all-Alpine podium last month on the Le Touquet Rally. A new prestigious competitor will also join the ranks of the A-arrowed brand this week, with 2014 Junior World Rally Champion and Junior European Rally Champion Stéphane Lefebvre.

2023 calendar

20-22 AprilRallye Rhône Charbonnières

18-20 MayRallye Antibes Côte d’Azur

6-8 July Rallye Aveyron Rouergue Occitanie

30 August - 2 SeptemberRallye Mont-Blanc Morzine

29 September - 1 OctoberRallye Cœur de France

23-26 NovemberRallye du Var