At the start of the Var rally, Friday in Sainte-Maxime, the last event of the season, only three points (130 to 127) separate the two PH Sport drivers. In this order: Léo Rossel in front of Éric Camilli. A total however virtual, because the young Gardois, who has finished all the rallies, will have to subtract his worst result (excluding bonus points), i.e. the six units of his sixth place in Le Touquet or Antibes.
It is therefore Camilli who leaves with a small advantage of three points, her abandonment in the Cévennes serving as a joker. If he beats Rossel at the Var finish, he will therefore be Yoann Bonato’s runner-up in the French Championship. And if the latter wins and Rossel and Camilli finish 2nd and 3rd respectively, it is also the Niçois who will be vice-champion of France (144 points each but two victories to zero for Camilli).
Rossel well in rhythm in the Cévennes
On the other hand, in the event of Rossel’s victory, this time it is he who will be second in the Championship, regardless of Camilli’s place. Rossel must therefore either win or be more than one place ahead of his teammate. He who masterfully dominated the last meeting in the Cévennes, only deprived of victory by a mechanical incident, will have to continue his momentum while hoping this time to avoid bad luck.
Besides Bonato, Rossel and Camilli, the three “leaders” of the season, the Var field is a little thin this year. Hugo Margaillan is still on the sidelines after his accident at the Coeur de France, Raphaël Astier, assured of the two-wheel drive title and fourth place in the Championship, leaves Cédric Robert alone with his Alpine A110 Rally in RGT. Eric Mauffrey will aim for a Top 5 in the absence of Patrick Rouillard, still convalescing.
A world champion at the start
Note, however, the presence of a world champion and a European champion: the Finn Roope Korhonen, crowned in WRC3, will be at the wheel of a Skoda Fabia Rally2 evo, and the Briton Jon Armstrong, victorious in ERC3, will drive a Ford Fiesta Rally3.
Another attraction of this Var 2023: the duel between Ludovic Jeudy (Peugeot 205 GTi 1.9) and Styve Juif (Renault Clio Rally5) for victory in the Michelin amateur Trophy.
224.52 timed km are on the program, always with timing over three days: four special stages on Friday afternoon, eight qualifying stages on Saturday and three on Sunday morning for an arrival at 11:25 a.m.
