Lucas Landais and Joélyne James will be the only ones to display a three-digit number at the start of the 2024 Indre rally. Their Renault Clio will in fact wear the number 100. The Berrichonne team has therefore achieved its objective of once again offering a packed field of around a hundred entrants for Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 November. 99 precisely since number 13 is not allocated, and probably even a little less due to the usual last minute packages. Quality will also be there with six cars from the R5/Rally2 group.
Marc Amourette’s double?
Let's start with Marc Amourette, the 2023 winner, three times winner in 2024, who will put his title back on the line, still co-driven by Amandine Houry and still with a Citroën C3. This pair competed in three rallies together, and each time they won. But this year, perhaps more than last year, the opposition will be sharp. Starting with Jordan Berfa, who is none other than the leader of the French second division championship, at the wheel of a Hyundai I20, quite rare in France. With eight victories this season, at regional and national level as well as participation in the Monte-Carlo rally, he arrives in Valençay with assets and ambitions.
The Amourette – Houry team, in a Citroën C3, is putting their title back on the line after winning around Argenton-sur-Creuse last year.
© (Photo NR)
Nicolas Hernandez and Bruno Longepé, the first at the wheel of a VW Polo, with four successes to his credit, former winner of the Coupe de France final and former winner at Saint-Genou in 2000, the second with a Skoda Fabia, also a four-time winner, will also aim for the top step of the podium. Finally, without offending them, Patrice Robert and Jérémy Bordagaray, less accustomed to their Skoda Fabia, should evolve a tone lower. Here is a summary of the fight for the scratch ranking.
But it is obvious that behind these headliners, the rally will highlight crews fighting for the different classifications, groups and classes.
Ten stages and 384 kilometers
On the road side, the rally will wind its way north of the Indre, around Valençay, where the parc ferme will be located, and Levroux, where the assistance will be gathered. With a total course of 384 kilometers including 122.55 timed, divided into ten special stages. Saturday will offer competitors two loops and four ESs between Baudres and Poulaines (approximately 40 km), the last two taking place at night.
On Sunday, the rally will once again pass through Poulaines, at the end of the longest special stage of the event, which started in Aize. But before that, the race will go from Brittany to Bouges to form a second loop to be completed three times; i.e. six additional ES for a little over 80 kilometers.
A priori, the roads are expected to be dry at the end of the week, but greasy in places depending on the sectors taken. Weather-wise, the rally should take place under clear skies on Saturday, but could experience some fog on Sunday. Autumnal conditions in fact, which will make the crews' task a little more delicate.
Indre Rally, Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 November around Valençay.
