Denis Ridel has won the first Alpine A290 Regional Trophy, a French series for the all-electric A290 Rallye that mixes rallying, hill climbs and slaloms. He led from the opening rounds and held off Pascal Janel and Benoît Mouquet to the end. Alpine Store Calais won the dealer-based Alpine Store Challenge.

The Alpine A290 Regional Trophy launched in March as a new kind of one-make series. Instead of running a fixed calendar on one type of event, it lets competitors enter eligible events on the FFSA calendar across three disciplines: rallying, hill climbs and slaloms. Points are based on class results, weighted by a coefficient for each event, so drivers could plan their own seasons around the rounds they chose to enter.

Only each driver’s six best results counted towards the final standings. A total of €23,700 in prize money was at stake.

Ridel sets the pace from the opening round

Denis Ridel, from Gaillac, took control early. At the Rallye National des Côtes du Tarn, with Maëva Blanc as co-driver, he won his class and moved into the overall lead of the series. He then won the A290 Rallye’s first hill climb at Saint-Jean-du-Gard – Col Saint-Pierre.

The RDL Développement driver kept scoring through the year, with strong results at the Rallye Régional des Vins du Gard, the Course de Côte de Quillan and the Rallye Régional du Val Dadou. At Val Dadou he finished ninth overall.

Janel and Mouquet keep the fight open

Ridel’s lead grew, but Pascal Janel kept the title race alive by winning the Rallye Régional du Pays Viganais. Over the summer, Benoît Mouquet became a contender with wins at Calais, Layrac and the Circuit de Clastres. He was also runner-up on the special stages of the Rallye Régional du Boulonnais, then won the FRCE group and the e-Rally5 class at the French Slalom Cup Final.

Ridel stayed ahead to the end of the season and finished on 300 points. Janel was second with 272 and Mouquet third with 216.

A family affair behind the podium

Christelle Martiaux, Mouquet’s partner, finished fourth and was the highest-placed woman. She secured that last weekend by beating her daughter, Ophélie, at the Slalom de Croix-en-Ternois. Ophélie Martiaux finished seventh. The Mouquet-Martiaux family scored most of the points that won the Alpine Store Challenge for Alpine Store Calais, which finished on 236 points to Alpine Store Clermont-Ferrand’s 20.

Aymeric Lenoir was fifth after winning the Rallye National de Meuse and the Rallye Régional des Ardennes. Behind him came Guillaume Delobel, who won the Rallye Régional du Boulonnais, and Franck Chaput, who won the Rallye National des Monts de Blond. Philippe Janvier and Italian Gabriele Barabino tied for ninth. They had won the Rallye Régional de la Coutellerie et du Tire-Bouchon and the Rallye Régional de Vaison-la-Romaine respectively.

What the season says about the A290 Rallye

The A290 Rallye is Alpine’s first all-electric competition car. Alpine says the season showed how versatile and reliable it is across rally stages, hill climbs and slaloms. Because the series uses existing events and needs no infrastructure beyond standard charging stations, it offers an accessible way into electric motorsport. Alpine says it plans to keep developing the format.

Ridel said he had not set out to win the title:

“The title wasn’t the goal. Still, we quickly built up a big enough lead to put ourselves in a strong position, particularly against Pascal Janel, with whom we’d agreed to go head-to-head in several rounds to ensure we scored 100% of the points.”

He also commented on what it is like to run the car:

“Logistically, the car requires a little extra preparation to coordinate with the organisers. Still, it’s proved far less of a burden than one might think, and we’ve generally been very well received. The A290 Rallye is reliable and efficient. I’ve driven many different cars, and this is clearly the most economical to run.”

Ridel says his prize money will pay for one round of the separate Alpine A290 Rally Trophy as he prepares for the 2027 season.

Final standings: Alpine A290 Regional Trophy 2026

  • 1. Denis Ridel – 300 points
  • 2. Pascal Janel – 272 points
  • 3. Benoît Mouquet – 216 points
  • 4. Christelle Martiaux – 184 points
  • 5. Aymeric Lenoir – 50 points
  • 6. Guillaume Delobel – 40 points
  • 7. Ophélie Martiaux – 36 points
  • 8. Franck Chaput – 30 points
  • 9. Gabriele Barabino – 20 points
  • 9. Philippe Janvier – 20 points
  • Alpine Store Challenge: 1. Alpine Store Calais – 236 points; 2. Alpine Store Clermont-Ferrand – 20 points
  • Prize money: €23,700

Alpine says the Regional Trophy will continue after this first season.

Source: media.alpinecars.com