Road rallies – 78th Rallye de l’Ain: Velardi on velvet! – Usual framework and record attendance

78th Rallye de l’Ain: Velardi on velvet !

Road rallies - 78th Rallye de l'Ain: Velardi on velvet! - Usual framework and record attendance

Winner of the two stages day and night with 8 specials won out of 14, Ajaccian Christophe Velardi (Ducati 1200 Multistrada) emerges victorious from this edition of the 2016 Ain rally and takes the lead of the championship. Report.

Usual framework and record attendance

It is once again the village of Cerdon (01) which hosts the Rallye de l’Ain, the fifth round of and 78th of the name, still perfectly organized and calibrated to the millimeter by UM Ain. As very often also in recent years, the rally is full with 150 drivers at the start, the maximum possible authorized in accordance with the authorizations granted. Suffice to say that the few latecomers at registration remained on the sidelines…

Since 2012 (read our), the first place in this race was taken over by Yamaha rider Julien Toniutti, "ex" rallyman and holder of the French scratch champion title. Not having the intention of leaving "his" rally to another competitor, Julien, barely returned from the Isle of Man after having done a (first French in 600 on Yamaha R6 and on Yamaha R1 a second from the best French time in 1000, held by Fabrice Miguet for several years), is present in Cerdon. It will roll fast in front !

The course seems complex: a prologue lap to complete the regulatory passage of reconnaissance in the specials, without stopwatch, and seven different loops, all passing through Cerdon with two specials per loop, for a total of 14 specials! There is no need to take the wrong loop during the race, but by scrupulously following the road book that should not pose a problem … The Ain road books are always precise: after more than 100 years of experience in this area, they know how to do !

The total mileage of the rally is almost 420 km. The stages are located in Challes (2.2 km) and Leymiat (3.5 km).

On the weather side, on Friday the technical controls take place under the sun. It almost feels like summer !

Marcus HIMSELF

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