FRC: Grosset-Janin wins Round 1

Category: April, Miscellaneous, News Posted 17.04.12 11:35 by Eddi Laumanns

The opening round of the 2012 French Rallycross Championship (FRC) has been won by Renault Clio Mk3 campaigner Jérôme Grosset-Janin at the Circuit des Ducs at Essay near Alençon. Laurent Chartrain claimed S1600.

The first round of the 2012 French Rallycross Championship took place at the Circuit des Ducs at Essay near Alençon in the Normandy. While rain hampered Saturday’s action the sunny Sunday suited all competitors well and produced fine racing. Renault Clio Mk3 SuperCar driver Jérôme Grosset-Janin set twice the fastest times in the qualifying heats to claim the first A final pole position of the new season. Joining the Renault man in the first row of the A final grid were Philippe Tollemer (Citroën C4) and Gaëtan Sérazin (Peugeot 207).

When the last race of the SuperCars got its GO! Grosset-Janin produced a superb start and shot as leader of the 8-car pack into the first corner, subsequently extending his advantage over his challengers. The Renault campaigner never came under pressure and, after successfully doing his Joker Lap, claimed the first FRC victory of the year while Philippe Tollemer became the runner-up ahead of Gaëtan Sérazin. Fabien Pailler (Peugeot 207) entered the A final by a detour through the B final to grab the fourth place away from reigning French champion Samuel “Sam Little” Peu. Mickaël Poirier (BMW 1 E81), Christophe Wilt (Citroën C4) and veteran Rallycrosser Hervé “Knapick” finishing 6th, 7th and 8th overall respectively.

Laurent Chartrain drove his Citroën Saxo to a never challenged overall victory of the Super1600 category. Eric Guillemette (Renault Clio Mk2) became his runner-up and 2011 champion David Olivier (Renault Twingo Mk2) scored the third place. The A final of the Division 3 was won by Christophe Saunois and his by a V6-engine powered Toyota Corolla while Rudolf Schafer claimed the A final of the Division 4 competitors. As Essay did not feature a round for the ‘Logan Cup Rallycross’ the one-make series is set to start at Faleyras in May.