Melvin Rabilloud and Enzo Mahinc won the season finale of the Alpine A290 Rally Trophy at the e-Rallye Critérium des Cévennes, their fourth victory of the year. They had already secured a second consecutive title before the start. Denis Ridel and Emma Bonnemort finished second, and Alpine ELF Cup Series champion Romain Monti won two stages on his rally debut.

The all-electric Alpine A290 Rally Trophy has finished its first full season. The final round was the Critérium des Cévennes, one of the best-known events on the French Rally Championship calendar. Its route mixes twisting roads, frequent changes of rhythm and stages run in the dark. Earlier rounds were held at Le Touquet, in the Vosges, at Mont Blanc and at the Cœur de France.

A title secured before the first stage

Rabilloud and Mahinc arrived with three wins from four rounds, so they were mathematically sure of the title. All they had to do was start the rally, and the championship was theirs from midday on Friday. They still went for the win. The Fun Meca Sport crew were fastest on the La Cadière–Sumène and Le Rey–Mandagout stages and repeated that on the second loop. SS5 was cancelled, but they then took a fifth stage win in a row on the Cévennes night stages.

On Saturday morning, Aymeric Lenoir tried to close the gap from second place on the stages between the Col de l’Asclier and the Col de Bès. On the next stage his car lost a wheel, which ended his challenge. Denis Ridel won SS9 and became only the third driver to win a stage in the series this season. Rabilloud replied by setting the fastest time on Saturday’s last two stages: Col de la Tribale – Saint-Martial – Sumène, and the night run on Col de l’Asclier – Sumène.

Monti steals the late headlines

Rabilloud set another fastest time early on Sunday, but the end of the rally belonged to a newcomer. Romain Monti, recently crowned Alpine ELF Cup Series champion, was driving the Alpine A290 Rallye VIP car with experienced co-driver Hervé Faucher. It was his first rally, and he got quicker as the event went on. He won the Pompignan–Claret stage by a tenth of a second from Rabilloud. He then won the Alpine Store Montpellier super-special ahead of Benoît Mouquet.

“I was really surprised by its front-end handling, especially in tight sequences, as well as its stability and very low centre of gravity. Despite its size, it doesn’t roll much and is a pleasure to drive. The absence of a gearbox also lets you focus fully on driving while getting to grips with the car.” — Romain Monti

Ridel and Janel complete the podium

Rabilloud and Mahinc won after 131.06 timed kilometres (81.4 miles), finishing 2m14.5s ahead of the next crew. Alpine Store Annecy has backed them since the A290 Rallye first raced, and it also won the Alpine Store Challenge for the second year in a row.

Ridel had won the Alpine A290 Regional Trophy title the weekend before. Here he took his fifth podium in a row, this time with Emma Bonnemort as co-driver. Pascal Janel and Jean-Pascal Berger, who were competing close to home, finished third for their first podium. Sandro Negre and Gilles Gaussens were fourth. Emma Chalvin and Amandine Borderie finished fifth and won the women’s classification, 0.9s ahead of Monti and Faucher.

“We were mathematically guaranteed the title, but this final rally is a crowning achievement. Enzo and I worked hard all season with the Fun Meca Sport team and all our partners. This collaboration was truly rewarding, and we’re delighted to see that effort pay off. This final round closes a wonderful adventure.” — Melvin Rabilloud

What it means

The series has now run a full season, and it shows that Alpine is serious about electric customer rallying with the A290, the brand’s electric hot hatch launched in 2024. Prizes were handed out at Domaine du Mas Neuf in Vic-la-Guardiole. Alpine says that after a season it describes as highly instructive, it will soon announce the series’ future and the next programme for Rabilloud and Mahinc.

Facts: Critérium des Cévennes, top five

  • 1. Melvin Rabilloud / Enzo Mahinc – 1h26m21.5s
  • 2. Denis Ridel / Emma Bonnemort – +2m14.5s
  • 3. Pascal Janel / Jean-Pascal Berger – +4m16.6s
  • 4. Sandro Negre / Gilles Gaussens – +4m35s
  • 5. Emma Chalvin / Amandine Borderie – +5m57.3s

Final standings

  • Drivers: 1. Melvin Rabilloud 201 points, 2. Denis Ridel 134, 3. Aymeric Lenoir 104, 4. Pascal Janel 85.5, 5. Benoît Mouquet 54.5
  • Alpine Store Challenge: 1. Alpine Store Annecy 241 points, 2. Alpine Store Calais 136.5, 3. Alpine Store Mantes-Le Vexin 63

Alpine has not yet announced plans for the series’ next season.

Source: media.alpinecars.com