The Rallye Mont-Blanc Morzine is a yearly motor rally held in the month of September in Morzine, Haute-Savoie. It is often held as part of the French Rally Championship. It began in 1947 with the Rally Paris-Evian, and it eventually became the Rallye. Formerly held in Annecy, this event moved to Morzine in 1989 where it adopted its current name in 1994.
One of the oldest continuing rallies in France, this rally has attracted famous names from the world of rally driving such as Sébastien Loeb, Stéphane Sarrazin, Philippe Bugalski and Pierre Campana. All the winners to date have been French with the exceptions of the Belgian Lucien Bianchi and Swiss Jean Krucker. Bugalski is the most successful driver in the events history with five wins between 1993 and 2000.
As well as part of the French Rally Championship, the Rallye Mont-Blanc was included in the European Rally Championship from 1988 to 1996.
Recent years 2011 In 2011, Pierre Campana, driving the same Mini Cooper WRC that won the Richard Burns Memorial Rally in England, added to his success. He took the lead after the previous leader Dany Snobeck crashed out. Gilles Nantet and Ludovic Gal were second and third respectively and it was Nantet's maiden ascent to the podium.
2012 In 2012, Stéphane Sarrazin who won previously in 2004 took another commanding victory in the Peugeot 307 WRC with co-driver Benjamin Veillas.
2013 In 2013, Julien Maurin won for the first time with co-driver Nicolas Klinger. Eric Brunson and Pierre Roché joined him on the podium. Maurin was the leader since SS2.
2014 In 2014, Julien Maurin won for the second consecutive time, also leading from the second stage and beating rival competitors. The second placed driver Jean-Marie Cuoq was joined on the podium by Lionel Baud.
2015 In 2015, the 67th running of this event, Stéphane Sarrazin won it for the third time, but the veteran driver Frédéric Comte died in a crash on SS2. After the agreement of the family, the rally was relaunched. Joining Sarrazin and his co-driver Jacques-Julien Renucci on the podium was Jean-Marie Cuoq, the runner-up from last year, and Yoann Bonato. The third placed co-driver, Denis Giraudet, made it on the podium for the first time in 21 years.
2016 In 2016, this rally was won for the first time by Yoann Bonato driving a Citroën DS3 R5. Earlier his fellow Frenchman Sylvain Michel battled with him for the lead, but had fallen down to eleventh by the start of the second leg, eliminating any hopes of victory.
List of winners Sourced in part from: SeasonWinnerCar 1957 Claude Storez Porsche 356 Carrera 1958 Claude Storez Porsche 356 Carrera 1959 Bernard Consten Alfa Romeo 1960 1961 not held 1962 René Trautmann Austin Cooper 1963 René Trautmann Citroën DS 19 1964 - 1968 not held 1969 Jean-Claude Andruet Alpine A110 1300 1970 Jean-François Piot Ford Escort Twin Cam 1971 Bernard Fiorentino Simca CG MC 2200 Coupé 1972 Bernard Darniche Alpine A110 1800 1973 Bernard Fiorentino Simca CG 1974 Jacques Henry Alpine A110 1800 1975 Francis Vincent Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV 1976 Bruno Saby Alpine A110 1800 1977 Bernard Béguin Alpine A310 1800 1978 Jan-Hug Hazard Porsche 911 Carrera 1979 Jean Krucker Porsche 911 Carrera RS 1980 Jean Ragnotti Renault 5 Alpine 1981 Bruno Saby Renault 5 Turbo 1982 Bruno Saby Renault 5 Turbo 1983 Francis Vincent Ferrari 308 GTB 1984 Jean Ragnotti Renault 5 Turbo 1985 François Chatriot Renault 5 Maxi Turbo 1986 Didier Auriol MG Metro 6R4 1987 Didier Auriol Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 1988 Didier Auriol Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 1989 François Chatriot BMW M3 1990 Bruno Saby Lancia Delta Integrale 16V 1991 Yves Loubet Lancia Delta Integrale 16V 1992 Bernard Béguin Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 4x4 1993 Philippe Bugalski Lancia Delta HF Integrale 1994 François Chatriot Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD 1995 Philippe Bugalski Renault Clio Maxi 1996 Gilles Panizzi Peugeot 306 Maxi 1997 Philippe Bugalski Renault Mégane Maxi 1998 Simon Jean-Joseph Subaru Impreza 555 1999 Philippe Bugalski Citroën Xsara Kit Car 2000 Philippe Bugalski Citroën Xsara T4 2001 Sébastien Loeb Citroën Xsara Kit Car 2002 Cédric Robert Peugeot 206 S1600 2003 Alexandre Bengué Peugeot 206 WRC 2004 Stéphane Sarrazin Subaru Impreza WRC 2005 Nicolas Bernardi Peugeot 206 WRC 2006 Jérôme Grosset-Janin Citroën Xsara WRC 2007 Jean-Marie Cuoq Peugeot 307 WRC 2008 Dany Snobeck Peugeot 307 WRC 2009 Patrick Henry Peugeot 206 WRC 2010 Dany Snobeck Peugeot 307 WRC 2011 Pierre Campana Mini John Cooper Works WRC 2012 Stéphane Sarrazin Peugeot 307 WRC 2013 Julien Maurin Ford Fiesta RS WRC 2014 Julien Maurin Ford Fiesta RS WRC 2015 Stéphane Sarrazin Ford Fiesta RS WRC 2016 Yoann Bonato Citroën DS3 R5 2017 Yoann Bonato Citroën DS3 R5
Fatalities In 1999, driver Mark Champeau died in a road accident during the reconnaissance. In 2015, driver Frédéric Comte died on Stage 2 after a big accident. His accident came in the wake of two other similar tragedies that happened the same week. One of rally's darkest weeks that blackened preparations for Rally Australia.
References
External links Website