4-8 – Rallye du Beaujolais – Rallye du Beaujolais: Schiltz leading the French championship! – Beaujolais rally page 1: the stage and its actors

Beaujolais rally: Schiltz leads the French championship !

4-8 - Rallye du Beaujolais - Rallye du Beaujolais: Schiltz leading the French championship! - Beaujolais rally page 1: the stage and its actors

In the absence of Christophe Velardi on this fourth round of the 2017 championship, the way is clear for CTM 83 driver Bruno Schiltz, who leads his KTM 1290 Superduke to victory in the rally and takes the lead of the provisional championship ! Story.

Beaujolais rally page 1: the stage and its actors

The very friendly village of Blace (69) once again welcomed the caravan of the French rally championship with the 48th edition of the Beaujolais rally, the fourth round of the 2017 championship.

Traditionally organized every two years by the Club Motocycliste du Beaujolais (CMB), the 2017 vintage of this rally is a grand cru: with 173 starters, this 48th edition marks a historic participation record in the annals of the discipline! No wonder for an event that has long been more than successful, in a region that has all the ingredients for an excellent rally.

4-8 - Rallye du Beaujolais - Rallye du Beaujolais: Schiltz leading the French championship! - Beaujolais rally page 1: the stage and its actors

The planned route consists of two loops, one 85 km long and one short 45 km, which crisscross the mountains and vineyards of Beaujolais. The two loops go through two specials: the essential Col de Saint Bonnet (5.5 km) and Pierres Plates (nearly 2 km).

The course is planned as follows:

  • A small loop with a "blank" passage in the stages, as recognition
  • By day: 3 large loop (Blace – Blace) + a small (Blace – Blace) = 300 km
  • By night: 1 large loop (Blace – Blace) + a small (Blace – Blace) = 130 km

As for the participants, everyone is there … or almost! Christophe Velardi, reigning French champion, leader of the provisional classification and Ducati West Europe rider, is absent for personal reasons. Hopefully he can continue the championship from the next event and try to defend his title acquired in 2016 !

For the other competitors, the bulk of the troops are mainly made up of licensees under the annual NCO license (more than 120), counted for the championship, of which more than half are fans of rallies. But the 50 or so LJA licensees (daily licenses) bodes well for the growing popularity of the road rally discipline. However, let us hope that the "newbies" present in large numbers enjoyed this race, why not register for the next one, this giant rally which is most accessible and open to all !

The weather is not very engaging this Saturday morning in Blace … Showers and clearings follow one another, which is not ideal in rally insofar as those who pass on the dry stages have a huge advantage over those that pass in the wet. In this weather pattern, the rally is a bit like the lottery! But no choice: we are here to ride and compete in this fourth round of the 2017 French Championship, so action !

Marcus HIMSELF

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