Rallye Mont-Blanc Morzine Explained

The Rallye Mont-Blanc Morzine is a yearly motor rally held in the month of September in Morzine, Haute-Savoie. It is often held as part of the French Rally Championship. It began in 1947 with the Rally Paris-Evian, and it eventually became the Rallye. Formerly held in Annecy, this event moved to Morzine in 1989 where it adopted its current name in 1994.

One of the oldest continuing rallies in France, this rally has attracted famous names from the world of rally driving such as Sébastien Loeb, Stéphane Sarrazin, Philippe Bugalski and Pierre Campana. All the winners to date have been French with the exceptions of the Belgian Lucien Bianchi and Swiss Jean Krucker. Bugalski is the most successful driver in the events history with five wins between 1993 and 2000.

As well as part of the French Rally Championship, the Rallye Mont-Blanc was included in the European Rally Championship from 1988 to 1996.

Recent years

2011

In 2011, Pierre Campana, driving the same Mini Cooper WRC that won the Richard Burns Memorial Rally in England, added to his success. He took the lead after the previous leader Dany Snobeck crashed out. Gilles Nantet and Ludovic Gal were second and third respectively and it was Nantet's maiden ascent to the podium.

2012

In 2012, Stéphane Sarrazin who won previously in 2004 took another commanding victory in the Peugeot 307 WRC with co-driver Benjamin Veillas.

2013

In 2013, Julien Maurin won for the first time with co-driver Nicolas Klinger. Eric Brunson and Pierre Roché joined him on the podium. Maurin was the leader since SS2.

2014

In 2014, Julien Maurin won for the second consecutive time, also leading from the second stage and beating rival competitors. The second placed driver Jean-Marie Cuoq was joined on the podium by Lionel Baud.

2015

In 2015, the 67th running of this event, Stéphane Sarrazin won it for the third time, but the veteran driver Frédéric Comte died in a crash on SS2. After the agreement of the family, the rally was relaunched. Joining Sarrazin and his co-driver Jacques-Julien Renucci on the podium was Jean-Marie Cuoq, the runner-up from last year, and Yoann Bonato. The third placed co-driver, Denis Giraudet, made it on the podium for the first time in 21 years.

2016

In 2016, this rally was won for the first time by Yoann Bonato driving a Citroën DS3 R5. Earlier his fellow Frenchman Sylvain Michel battled with him for the lead, but had fallen down to eleventh by the start of the second leg, eliminating any hopes of victory.

List of winners

Sourced in part from:[1]

SeasonWinnerCar
1957 Claude StorezPorsche 356 Carrera
1958 Claude StorezPorsche 356 Carrera
1959 Bernard ConstenAlfa Romeo
1960
1961
not held
1962 René TrautmannAustin Cooper
1963 René TrautmannCitroën DS 19
1964
-
1968
not held
1969 Jean-Claude AndruetAlpine A110 1300
1970 Jean-François PiotFord Escort Twin Cam
1971 Bernard FiorentinoSimca CG MC 2200 Coupé
1972 Bernard DarnicheAlpine A110 1800
1973 Bernard FiorentinoSimca CG
1974 Jacques HenryAlpine A110 1800
1975 Francis VincentAlfa Romeo 2000 GTV
1976 Bruno SabyAlpine A110 1800
1977 Bernard BéguinAlpine A310 1800
1978 Jan-Hug HazardPorsche 911 Carrera
1979 Jean KruckerPorsche 911 Carrera RS
1980 Jean RagnottiRenault 5 Alpine
1981 Bruno SabyRenault 5 Turbo
1982 Bruno SabyRenault 5 Turbo
1983 Francis VincentFerrari 308 GTB
1984 Jean RagnottiRenault 5 Turbo
1985 François ChatriotRenault 5 Maxi Turbo
1986 Didier AuriolMG Metro 6R4
1987 Didier AuriolFord Sierra RS Cosworth
1988 Didier AuriolFord Sierra RS Cosworth
1989 François ChatriotBMW M3
1990 Bruno SabyLancia Delta Integrale 16V
1991 Yves LoubetLancia Delta Integrale 16V
1992 Bernard BéguinFord Sierra RS Cosworth 4x4
1993 Philippe BugalskiLancia Delta HF Integrale
1994 François ChatriotToyota Celica Turbo 4WD
1995 Philippe BugalskiRenault Clio Maxi
1996 Gilles PanizziPeugeot 306 Maxi
1997 Philippe BugalskiRenault Mégane Maxi
1998 Simon Jean-JosephSubaru Impreza 555
1999 Philippe BugalskiCitroën Xsara Kit Car
2000 Philippe BugalskiCitroën Xsara T4
2001 Sébastien LoebCitroën Xsara Kit Car
2002 Cédric RobertPeugeot 206 S1600
2003 Alexandre BenguéPeugeot 206 WRC
2004 Stéphane SarrazinSubaru Impreza WRC
2005 Nicolas BernardiPeugeot 206 WRC
2006 Jérôme Grosset-JaninCitroën Xsara WRC
2007 Jean-Marie CuoqPeugeot 307 WRC
2008 Dany SnobeckPeugeot 307 WRC
2009 Patrick HenryPeugeot 206 WRC
2010 Dany SnobeckPeugeot 307 WRC
2011 Pierre CampanaMini John Cooper Works WRC
2012 Stéphane SarrazinPeugeot 307 WRC
2013 Julien MaurinFord Fiesta RS WRC
2014 Julien MaurinFord Fiesta RS WRC
2015 Stéphane SarrazinFord Fiesta RS WRC
2016 Yoann BonatoCitroën DS3 R5
2017 Yoann BonatoCitroën DS3 R5

Fatalities

References

  1. https://www.ewrc-results.com/events.php?id=261

External links