Tom Pieri triumphs in his debut at the EHRC, as Jari Latvala encounters disappointment in Antibes.
The European Historic Rally Championship (EHRC) lit up the picturesque French Riviera this weekend, as the Rallye Antibes Historic reclaimed its spot on the calendar. Nearly 40 crews from across Europe participated, navigating the winding mountain passes of the Côte d'Azur before concluding at Antibes' glistening harbor.
Day one was marked by heavy rain, creating early drama and making tire strategy crucial. Some crews chose slick tires in damp conditions, leading to unexpected stage results. Local hero Hervé Guignard, in a breathtaking Alpine-Renault A310 1800, capitalized on the varying grip levels and clinched the opening test.
Front-runners Jari-Matti Latvala and co-driver Jani Hussi, victors of the first two rounds, struggled after an unfortunate tire choice and poor visibility due to a faulty heater and wipers. Despite their formidable pace, they ended day one in fourth position on SS1. They quickly recovered, securing wins on SS2 and SS3.
Latvala showed promising form on day two, recording fastest times on SS4, SS5, SS7, and SS8. A certain victory seemed imminent until an electrical failure stalled the Toyota Celica ST185 on SS9, dashing Latvala's chances of a three-peat and passing the lead to a rising young star.
That star was Tom Pieri, making his EHRC debut. Pieri displayed commendable composure and skill all weekend in his BMW M3 E30. He finished third on the rain-slicked opener, but claimed victory on SS3 and maintained his pursuit of Latvala throughout day one. His consistency paid off, as he placed third on SS4 and SS8, and second on SS5 and SS6. Pieri secured the event with a stage win on the finale and a total time of 1:38:54.7, earning him both the overall win and Category 4 honors. The promising French talent is poised for a bright future in the EHRC.
Italy's Angelo Lombardo took second overall, delivering a measured and strategic performance in his impeccable Porsche 911 Carrera RS 3.0. A wise tire choice on SS2 granted him the second fastest time, but a mistake on SS3 set him back. Regrouping on day two, Lombardo regained ground, winning SS6 and the final stage through the picturesque Saint-Antonin region. His final time of 1:40:46.4 secured second overall and victory in Category 2.
The final podium spot went to Poland's Maciej Lubiak and co-driver Grzegorz Dachowski in their Porsche Carrera RS. A loss of ground on the soaked SS1 placed them ninth, but they recovered with a strong showing on SS2 and SS3. Day two saw a string of consistent performances, particularly on the steep, twisty descents of the Côte d'Azur. Lubiak's push on the final stages earned him third on SS8 and second on SS9. He also took second in Category 2.
Local legend Romain Dumas, renowned for his success at Le Mans, endured disappointment. A gearbox failure on SS7 forced him to withdraw prematurely.
French drivers dominated the chase just outside the podium, with Richard Genesca finishing fourth in his Subaru Legacy RS (1:43:47.8), narrowly ahead of compatriot Tanguy Tallier (1:43:47.9) in his Porsche Carrera RS.
Category Results:
Category 1: Antonio Parisi claimed top honors in this category with a win in his Porsche 911 S. Carlo Fiorito finished second in his BMW 2002 TI, while Oldřich Kovarik Snr. completed the podium in a Škoda Octavia Super.
Category 2: Angelo Lombardo led the class, with Maciej Lubiak just under a second behind. Tanguy Tallier completed the top three.
Category 3: Jesús Ferreiro Pérez and Javier Anido Vázquez, from Spain, proved unbeatable in their Ford Escort RS1800 for the second consecutive event. Éric Guignard took second in his Renault 5 Turbo, with Tim Metcalfe finishing third.
Category 4: Event winner Tom Pieri also captured the category win. Richard Genesca secured second place, with Alan Ring rounding out the top three in his BMW M3.
P2000 Class: Arnold van der Smeede and Patricia Berk took the checkered flag in their Ford Escort RS Cosworth after a clean, controlled run.
The EHRC will now travel to Belgium for the Ardeca Ypres Historic Rally, set for June 27 and 28, 2025. The rally is famous for its fast, flat farmland stages and unforgiving ditches, presenting a striking contrast to the mountainous terrain of Antibes. Crews must prepare for a demanding yet exhilarating event as the 2025 season continues.
In the motorsport sphere, Tom Pieri, debuting in the European Historic Rally Championship (EHRC), showcased his talent in auto-racing by winning the Rallye Antibes Historic. He clinched the victory in the grand-prix, besting over three dozen crews from Europe, including the front-runner Jari-Matti Latvala who faced setbacks due to unfavorable tire choices and poor visibility. Meanwhile, Pieri's performance in the category 4 races was equally impressive, earning him the category win along with the overall championship title. This young French talent is poised to excel further in the world of sports racing.
