Stage 4

Wednesday 15 February 2023 - Stage 4 : Malbuisson - Labergement - Malbuisson 222 KM with 12 ZR

4x4x PODIUM

CLASSIC PODIUM

JOSEPH LAMBERT TROPHY

The Joseph Lambert Trophy was awarded to Florin Fornasier to reward his excellent performance of 119 zero out of 380 time-takings, as co-driver of Romuald Sanseigne, on the Fiat Cinquecento n°20, at the 2023 Neige et Glace!

It was a real back to the roots this year, the Joseph Lambert Trophy as well as the results revealed only at the end of the day brought an extra suspense to the event, in addition to stimulating the battle between competitors throughout the rally and paying tribute to the immense talent of the co-drivers!

Sanseigne and Euvrard: never two without three!

Tradition obliges, this 68th Rallye Neige et Glace drew its apotheosis in a loop of nearly 250 kilometers around Malbuisson and the Lake of Saint Point. And if an almost spring sun bathed this 4th and final stage, the ZR passages in the neighbouring forests left the competitor with an ideal playground, made of snow, ice and sliding. So, there was no question of finishing in a free wheel as the gaps in the Historic category were so tight at the start of this final explanation with, in particular, the dreaded passage in Rochejean, the real judge of peace of the event for many years. If in the 4X4 category, Arnaud and Adeline Euvrard (Subaru Imprezza n°1) had won the race a long time ago, they still had to hoist the car on the final podium in the centre of Malbuisson, to sign their second victory in a row on this event.

Sanseigne and Fornasier received three out of three! It took four stages, nearly a thousand kilometres and almost 40 ZR to decide the winners of the Historic category. With a maximum gap of 3 points between the first two finishers over the 4 days of the race, this 68th edition of the Neige et Glace Rally was certainly the most exciting. And since this morning only 0,4 points separated Romuald Sanseigne and Florin Fornasier (Fiat Cinquecento n°20) from the Belgians Van Rompuy/Vanoverschelde (Porsche 914/6 n°12), the suspense was at its height. We had to wait until the very end of the rally and the last passage in the ZR of the ‘low speed’ pack to be able to claim the victory. In the end, it was a fuel pump failure on the Porsche n°12, which was forced to retire at the end of the race, that made the difference: granting a well-deserved victory to the young local drivers, authors of a third unprecedented victory in a row on this event, after having already signed a first runner-up spot in 2017. Second of this 2023 edition, the Belgians Johnny Delhez and Yves Noelanders (Ford Escort n°22) are rewarded for their generosity on each run. It is also the best result for the driver from Liège after ten participations in the Snow and Ice Rally. Rounding off the final podium, the Belgian team Ansiaux/Javaux (Volvo Amazon n°14) took third place as a worthy representative of the 'low speeds'.

Euvrard persists and signs! There is such a thing as a faultless rally. The proof is Arnaud and Adeline Euvrard who led the 4x4 category with their gleaming Subaru Impreza, never failing throughout the 1000 km of this 68th Snow and Ice Rally. The Vesalian couple, signs a 4th victory of stage and offers itself a second consecutive crown, before undoubtedly, attacking the supreme category of the Historic as of next year in two-wheel drive! Second Daniel Georges and Laurent Perquin (BMW 325IX n°6) are ahead of Daniel and Nicolas Thoreau (BMW 325iX n°4), authors of a great comeback in extremis.

Cristaline, the water that flows from the source. Partner of this 68th Snow and Ice Rally, Cristaline water, designated as the favorite water of the French and coming from 34 springs, accompanied the crews throughout this event. Still or slightly sparkling water, with its new 'snap click' cap, the small 50cl bottle, the most used in France, served as a life-saving water bottle for many crews of competitors.

The Joseph Lambert Trophy. Florin Fornasier, co-driver of Romuald Sanseigne in the Fiat Cinquecento Sporting, won the first Joseph Lambert Trophy, in homage to the Luxembourgish grandmaster of the discipline and first winner of the regularity event in 2004, who passed away last January. With no less than 119 'zeros', the perfect score, in the 410 or so times taken throughout the 68th Snow and Ice Rally, he outperformed all other co-drivers entered.

Badoz is making a big deal of it! Between two ZR, during this final stage, the crews of the 68th Snow and Ice Rally made a gourmet stopover at one of the partners of the event, the Badoz Cheese Factory. Cheesemakers from father to son... since 1830, the family business now has three sales and production outlets in Pontarlier, Levier and Fourgs. The Pontarlier cheese dairies and its various Comté cheese dairies make Badoz a great name in cheese, recognized for its PDO (Mont d'or, Comté, Morbier), traditional pressed cheeses and soft cheeses. A wide range recently completed by a cancoillotte available in different flavours.

INTERVIEWS

Romuald Sanseigne (Fiat Cinquecento Sporting n°20/Fra): "It's really incredible to achieve another victory against such opponents. We have been fighting for four days with half-seconds and I must admit that Florin and I are very proud to become the first team to win three races in a row. We would like to thank our opponents for their kindness. It was another emotional experience. Yves Deflandre's record of four wins is now our goal! "

Johnny Delhez (Ford Escort n°22/Bel): "Until then, my best result had been a 4th place with my late friend Joseph Lambert. We really had a wonderful rally. The ZR were varied and very technical. The fight was of a rare intensity and it is a real pleasure to be able to ensure the show and to finish on the 2nd step of the podium. Congratulations to Romuald and Florin, they fought like lions, never giving up..."

Arnaud Euvrard (Subaru Imprezza/Fra): "Adeline and I would like to dedicate this victory to Isabelle Godin and Bernard Figuière who, affected by a family tragedy, could not be present at the start of this edition. We have not stopped thinking about them throughout the rally. This is a beautiful second victory for us. It fills us with happiness. We'll be back in 2024, in 4X4 or a two-wheel drive, to fight it out in the Historic category. "

Patrick Zaniroli (Organiser/Fra): "It was a magnificent last rally for us organizers. After 19 editions of the Neige et Glace and more than 40 years of career as a driver, then as an organizer of the Dakar, but also, with my wife Viviane, of the Princesses Rally and the Trophée des Alpes, it is time to put a step aside. But rest assured, the future of the Neige et Glace Rally is assured. Buyers have already taken steps and we should be able to announce good news in the coming weeks. I would like to thank all my team for the work they have done, because without them and without you dear competitor friends, none of this would have been possible."