Meunier prevails in Rallycross France thriller at Lohéac

Damien Meunier stood at the top of his game at all times during the Rallycross France event at Lohéac, with the effort paying dividends with a hard fought victory in a really competitive field, as the biggest event of the calendar had plenty of drivers with international experience amid a big car count and a joint effort with 5 Nations British RX.
 
Meunier showed what he can do by topping the Qualifying despite a good start from Romuald Delaunay, who won more heats but appeared in third, behind a returning Jean-Baptiste Dubourg. Derek Tohill appeared in fourth as the clear favorite from the British RX contingent, while Philippe Maloigne was fifth with the consistent Toyota Yaris WRX.
 
The Semifinal B started with Tohill trying a move from the outside and failing miserably, which kept Jean-Baptiste Dubourg in first with Jonathan Pailler leading the chasing group. With Pailler, Tohill and Jeanney chasing Dubourg’s rear wing, the DA Racing driver wasn’t exactly safe, but Jeanney did his job by inducing Stéphane de Ganay to a mistake and passing Tohill with the help of the Joker. Dubourg still secured the win and the other three that were into the transfer spots remained the same, but Pailler was followed by Jeanney and Tohill was sent to fourth, although he was more than safe as de Ganay had to deal with Thomas Fretin, which slowed them down.
 
In the Semifinal A, Philippe Maloigne tried to shove his way from the outside but failed to shake off Damien Meunier, staying only in fourth. Meunier, Laurent Le Manac’h, Maloigne and David Vincent were safe in the transfer, but Maloigne spun after oversteering at the Joker merge, opening the door to a consistent Knapick, who didn’t have opposition around when he took the fourth place.
 
In the Final, Pailler was launched in the gravel trap while Meunier led Le Manac’h, Tohill and Jeanney while Dubourg took an early Joker to stay behind the group under a standard strategy. Le Manac’h and Jeanney went to the Joker a lap later, with Meunier and Tohill being the last of the frontrunners to Joker, leaving the battle for the win between Meunier and Dubourg. With Dubourg’s Peugeot 208 WRX sliding in the four wheels, Jeanney came closer but never materialised the overtake, but Meunier had more room to breathe and concentrate to bring the Audi S1 RX home to the win.
 
Rallycross France - Lohéac event results
 
Meunier has 163 points against the 128 of Jeanney and 123 of Tohill, which means that depending of results combinations, he might be champions with an event to spare at Mayenne on 20 September.
 
PHOTO: Rallycross France