The Hellas Rally was the second round of the European TT Rally Championship. With seven days of racing and a much faster surface than that encountered in Spain a few weeks earlier, this Greek event attracted a particularly strong field. The margins were razor-thin, and the pace set from the very first days was extremely intense.
Usually, my strategy is to gradually increase the intensity in order to make a difference in terms of stamina in the second half of the rally. But given the very high standard of the competition and the pace of the early stages, it was important not to let the leading group get away. So I chose to put in a big effort right from the start of the race to get into the best possible position, before aiming to maintain a steady pace right to the finish.
This approach allowed me to stay in contention throughout the week, competing against some particularly fast and experienced drivers. In this kind of fast-paced rally, the margins are tight, and the slightest navigational error or mechanical problem can quickly cost you several places.
The Hellas Rally proved to be particularly gruelling. The marathon stage was one of the highlights of the week, with the first day starting at 4 am to catch the ferry, followed by a long night-time transfer along dirt tracks, before tackling nearly 400 kilometres. The fatigue that built up day after day meant that managing pace and concentration were just as important as sheer speed.
The penultimate stage also played a key strategic role. At this stage of the rally, the main objective was simply to finish without making any navigation errors or encountering any mechanical problems. The 250km on the sixth day were gruelling. In such conditions, consistency remains one of the keys to securing a good final result.
At the end of this intense week, I finished 17th in the overall standings (15th overall in the championship) and 8th in the M2-450 category. This result means I’ve secured some important new points in the European Championship and can continue my season in a strong position ahead of the final two rounds.
Beyond the final standings, what stands out most for me is the satisfaction of having been able to compete all week against some particularly fast rivals and of having managed to maintain consistent results despite the intensity of the race. This consistency is a key factor in a championship that is decided over four rallies, rather than a single event.
The next round is in six weeks’ time with the RoRally Marathon in Romania, an event renowned for its demanding and fast terrain.
At the end of the seven days, I finished:
17th overall out of 150 riders,
15th in the FIM overall standings (1,5 championship points),
8th in my 450 cm³ class (M2, 12 championship points)
With such a high standard among the competitors, this Hellas Rally confirms that consistency remains one of my key strengths. Facing some very fast competitors, I managed to maintain a steady performance throughout the week and score valuable points for the European Championship. At the halfway point of the season, a podium finish in the M2 class remains a realistic goal, and the final two rounds should provide excellent opportunities to continue this progress.
De cette expérience, je retiens plusieurs axes essentiels pour celles et ceux qui souhaitent s’aligner sur un rallye comme le Dinaric Rally:
Navigation : savoir lire un roadbook, anticiper les pièges et rester concentré sur la trace même après plusieurs heures de roulage.
Condition physique : l’endurance prime. Ce n’est pas une course d’un jour mais un marathon sur près d’une semaine.
Gestion mécanique : préparer sa moto pour encaisser les terrains variés et apprendre les bases de l’entretien quotidien pour éviter l’abandon sur une panne évitable.
Mental : garder le cap, même quand la fatigue s’installe ou que la navigation devient piégeuse. Un rallye se gagne autant dans la tête que sur la piste.
Logistique : Bien choisir et organiser son matériel, sa nutrition et ses temps de récupération. Chaque détail compte quand on enchaîne 6 jours de course.
The Fenek Rally is a condensed version of desert rally raid: demanding, educational and incredibly enriching on a human level. For me, it was an opportunity to continue to progress, test my limits, but also to see that the training I give during the courses pays off in the field.
Those considering embarking on the adventure of rally raids will find this type of event an ideal gateway before moving on to major African rallies.
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