The all-new Ellip6 Junior Rally Team will make its competitive debut at this weekend’s Rallye Le Touquet, the opening round of the French Rally Championship.

Ellip6 has recently selected the two beneficiaries of this year’s inaugural Junior Rally Team with up-and-coming French rally stars Kevin Coste and Dorian Nicolas flying the Ellip6 flag this season.

Both Kevin and Dorian will compete in Rallye Le Touquet at the helm of a Renault Twingo R1 as part of the brand new Ellip6 team that will be managed and overseen by former rally driver Fabrice Morel, owner of the PPAC rally driving school, and Renaud Chazel, founder of Chazel Technologies.

The duo has recently completed an intensive day of preparation at Pôle Mécanique Alès-Cévennes, part of the PPAC, under the tutelage of Morel and Chazel. Kevin and Dorian had the opportunity to make a first acquaintance with the Renault Twingo rally car, carrying out seat fittings, steering adjustments and all the basic settings that are required in advance of any new season. The drivers conducted 100kms of specific checks of engine, braking, gearbox and electronics systems, in addition to initial tyre tests with Pirelli, the reference tyres for the Twingo trophy.

Outside of the cockpit, the drivers also undertook a fitness programme and dietary assessments, as well as being involved in the logistics and administrative pre-race organisation with the team.

For their first rally with the Ellip6 Junior Team, both Kevin and Dorian will put their already accumulated knowledge of rallying to good use alongside their respective co-pilots Jean François de Montredon and Valentin Sarreaud. Both drivers have also made full use of Ellip6’s simulation expertise by spending time in the company’s bespoke six-axis rally simulator.

Ellip6 President Pierre Tantot: "After a busy period of establishing the new Ellip6 Junior Team, identifying our drivers and setting our goals for the year, we are now ready to embark on our first rally as a team, Rallye le Touquet. I am incredibly proud of the work carried out so far by our team. Fabrice Morel and Renaud Chazel have been an integral part of this process and have shown great commitment to this initiative, for which I am very grateful. I am also pleased with the initial progress made by our drivers Kevin and Dorian, who I am sure will shine during this season. We know there will be hurdles to overcome but with thanks to everyone’s support, I am confident we will have an enjoyable and successful season."

Kevin Coste: "It has been a very special few weeks for me after the initial selection by Ellip6. We have had a few intensive weeks to prepare for this first rally, to learn all about the objectives and to understand the Renault Twingo car and Pirelli tyres. The day at Pôle Mécanique was hard work but fun and I can’t wait to get started at Rallye Le Touquet."

Dorian Nicolas: "I am thrilled to be part of the new Ellip6 Junior Team and to begin a very important part of my rally career. Spending the day with the team at Pôle Mécanique was really useful and we learned a lot about the basic systems of the Twingo ahead of this first rally event. It is a fantastic opportunity for me and I will do my best to prove why I was selected."

Final preparations for Rallye le Touquet get underway on Thursday 17 March with the rally itself taking place over Friday 18 and Saturday 19 March.
 
For more information in the meantime, please contact:
www.ellip6.com 
contact@ellip6.com