Last year, he approached perfection: ten starts, ten wins! New record with a title of French gravel rally champion, please… And now? Rather than trying to outdo himself on the domestic front, Mathieu Franceschi, at 23, quite logically chose to look elsewhere, at the higher level. Let’s go to the ERC, a European championship which starts this week in Portugal. And which no longer rings hollow. Just take a look at the well-stocked field of the Serras de Fafe e Felgueiras Rally where the “sizes” are jostling. Still in the bucket seat of a Skoda Fabia Rally2, the young Fayençois tiger licensed to ASAC in Nice does not approach this meeting in unknown territory with the hope of knocking everyone out. Wisdom and patience required… even if he intends to speed up his learning as much as possible.
Mathieu, when did the green light go on for this first program without borders?
Pretty early, actually. With the AMD Motorsport team, we started talking about this prospect near Millau, on the evening of the Terre des Cardabelles, as soon as we had our title of champions of France in our pocket. (October 9, 2022, editor’s note). A month later, after the Terre de Vaucluse synonymous with Grand Slam (6 rounds, 6 wins), almost all the partners were already together. Decision taken!
Why ERC?
The ambition is to reach the top level one day. And the principle is to do things in order. That’s it, we felt that the European championship is the right intermediate level between France and the World Cup. In addition, Michelin has just appointed me ambassador. They have also signed a partnership with AMD Motorsport.
Was the possibility of taking the plunge directly into WRC2 ever considered?
Yes, we thought about it. Financially, it was more expensive. Normal given the difference in length between a WRC2 round (about 280km selective) and an ERC race (between 180 and 200km). And then in this case, it was necessary to do without the support of Michelin since Pirelli holds the monopoly in Mondial. WRC2 will be the next chapter. I repeat: everything in its time!
Are you restarting with the undefeated Skoda Fabia in the French land championship?
Yes, it is the same box. Except that it now has all the engine upgrades. Optimized cartography and the rest… It is “full option”, what!
Some of your rivals will drive the new Fabia RS…
We, for now, are waiting for it! AMD Motorsport has ordered two. Deliveries planned for the second semester.
Same structure, same car but new co-driver: why is Jules Escartefigue succeeding Lucie Baud?
The European Championship requires strong involvement, especially before each event. After careful consideration, rather than embarking on this adventure, Lucie decided to stay where she masters her subject perfectly. (she will support Jean-Baptiste Franceschi, the eldest brother, entered in the French gravel championship at the wheel of another Skoda Fabia Rally2 from the AMD Motorsport team). This is his choice. I respect him. Jules lives five minutes from the team’s workshops, near Sisteron. He’s been working with them for two years, by the way. On the racing side, he already has a solid experience forged in the company of very good drivers. (Niciois Romain Di Fante and Vauclusians Emmanuel Guigou and Jonathan Rieu, among others). If we have never raced together, we have the same age and the same desire to climb the ladder to the top. Our first work sessions went really well. Violins quickly tuned. In short, we are on the same wavelength.
Your only ERC appearance was in June 2021. What memories do you have of Rally Poland?
Excellent memory! It was the first time that I played away from France. With Lucie and our Peugeot 208 Rally4, we finished 2nd in the ERC3 category (2 wheel drive). A great discovery of these fairly fast Polish dirt tracks and the atmosphere of the ERC that I am delighted to find again.
Regarding the seven other deadlines on the 2023 calendar, it will be a leap into the unknown. What does the Portuguese opening leg pitch look like?
It’s not very far from what I know. Sandy ground, rather fast tracks, with many passages in dense forests, possibly humid. Profile not bad to start with. I won’t be too upset.
And after? Is there a step you’re particularly looking forward to?
The calendar includes eight: four on asphalt, four on dirt. Among these, the Rally of Scandinavia (July 7-8) is a novelty for everyone. It follows part of the route of the former Rally Sweden WRC, when it was based further south, around Karlstad. We will get to know the famous Colin’s Crest jump, in particular. It looks nice…
The competition?
The other day, I took part in a videoconference where the promoter of the ERC said that the championship had never reached such an influx and such a level. Hayden Paddon, Craig Breen, Mads Ostberg, Pontus Tidemand, Erik Cais, Yoann Bonato, Efren Llarena, that’s already a lot of people capable of winning. In Portugal alone, the entry list includes around forty Rally2!
What ambition does Mathieu Franceschi have in the midst of this beautiful world?
Discover, learn, progress. You have to go to the end everywhere, rack up as many kilometers as possible. Among the names that I have just mentioned to you, there are guys in the middle or at the end of their careers with immense experience at the top level. So many solid references for us. But let’s avoid drawing plans on the comet. Better to stay where you are. Today, I’m just an apprentice, a rookie.
Question to the 2017 Rallye Jeunes winner who has just had an exceptional season at the national level: are you surprised not to receive a helping hand from the French Motor Sport Federation to negotiate this turn abroad?
I have already been asked the question several times… and I still don’t know how to properly formulate the answer today. In the eyes of some, I should be a member of the France Rallye team, or supported by the FFSA in one way or another. This is not the case. Because I don’t meet the criteria of the Fed, no doubt. What else to say?
To conclude, who do you designate favorite to your succession on the shelves of the championship of France ground?
Someone I know well since we have the same name! My brother took the title before me (in 2020) so he knows which way to go. I also challenged him to win all the rounds! We know that there will still be opposition, sharp rivals. But with Lucia (Baud) next, the car to win, the videos, he has the cards in hand.
