Rally Entre 2 Mers 2018, back on the 2018 edition

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The 49 crews in both categories, Classic and Prestige, had an appointment in Biarritz for the official start of the 3rd edition of the Rally Entre 2 Mers organized by Cyril Neveu Promotion, which took place from 8 to 12 October 2018, in 4 stages and 1200km separating the Atlantic coast from the Mediterranean shores of Saint-Tropez.

It was under a morning mist, typical of the seaside, that the competitors took the path of the Basque country to face the first day in the direction of Pau and travel through the beautiful green territories marking the entrance to the historic sites of a itinerary on the Way of the Cross to Santiago de Compostela. It was also the time chosen by the clouds to dissipate and give way to a bright sun.

The caravan then had an appointment with the Pau-Arnos circuit for a first driving session where the participants could evolve without any restrictions, except that of making the most regular rounds possible to rank well in the standings.

The second stage, between Pau and Carcasssonne, proposed the ascent to the high mountains and the mythical Pass of the Pyrenees that are the Tourmalet and the Aspin, well known to the amateurs of the Tour de France cyclist.

All crews will then remember these very narrow roads, taken in Ariège and Aude, in the heart of several large farm lands seeming taken out from another time, before joining the city of Carcassonne, sumptuous vestige of this Occitan France, witness of a medieval past must.

A 100% new stage was then devised between Carcassonne and Les Baux de Provence to discover the best of the Aude, Minervois, Haut-Languedoc and Cevennes landscapes. Following a capricious weather, the organization decided to change at the last moment the course of this third stage and re-localised the picnic, initially thought of the Devil’s Bridge, to a winery of one of the participants for a welcome all the warmer.

With Provence in focus, and a climate returned to the beautiful fixed, was confirmed the march forward to Saint-Tropez with a passage in the Camargue, between bulls, horses and rice paddies to join the white and eroded stones of the Alpilles and spend the night at the foot of Les Baux de Provence.

The last stage between Les Baux and Saint-Tropez proposed a route in the heart of the National Park of Luberon, its beautiful hilltop villages, and turn bends, breathtaking views of Mont Ventoux. The rally then climbed the northern face of the Montagne Sainte-Victoire to reach the Circuit of Grand Sambuc and its natural setting where was played the ultimate race circuit and its hilly and winding course, with many blind corners, rich in thrills.

Nothing was then ensured in the general classification before this last event with gaps being very small between the contenders for the podiums of the two categories.

To perfect this gastro-touristic trip between Biarritz and Saint-Tropez, the ultimate reunification of the cars was organized in a vineyard of Ramatuelle before the triumphant return in convoy to the Place des Lices, where the winners of the 3rd edition of the Rally Entre 2 Mers have been revealed!

Appointment is taken in 2019, for a completely renewed 4th edition that will take place from 7 to 11 October, in a route entirely drawn in the Pyrenees and mostly in Spain, again between Atlantic and Mediterranean, but this time from San Sebastian to Cadaques! Lire le résumé de l’étape 4 Lire le résumé de l’étape 3 Lire le résumé de l’étape 2 Lire le résumé de l’étape 1 Lire le résumé de la journée de vérifications administratives

Final ranking

The Rally in video

Pictures of the day

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