In the ongoing Rallye Antibes Côte d'Azur, five-time French champion Yoann Bonato leads the competition with a substantial advantage as the event reaches its midpoint.

On Saturday morning, Bonato, driving a Citroën C3, initially fell behind his principal rival, Éric Camilli, who drives a Hyundai i20 N. Camilli led during the morning loop but Bonato reclaimed the lead thanks to a timely decision regarding tire selection suited to the unpredictable weather conditions.

As the rally progressed into the second loop on wet roads, Bonato capitalized on excessively rainy conditions, extending his lead significantly.

The rally celebrates its sixtieth anniversary this year, but the competition saw notable absences from several regional drivers due to various constraints, limiting the participation of local talent.

Éric Camilli, last year's local champion, initially took charge in the rally, gaining a lead of 5.5 seconds over Bonato during the lunchtime halt at Cagnes-sur-Mer.

Camilli expressed satisfaction with his performance despite grappling with the limitations of his vehicle’s braking capabilities.

The weather posed challenges, as competitors had to make critical choices about tire suitability for both dry and wet conditions.

While Camilli chose to retain a consistent tire setup with four hard tires, Bonato opted for a mix of soft and super-soft tires, anticipating the rain.

The weather condition subsequently shifted dramatically, with heavy rain impacting the rally just before the second stage, creating difficult and treacherous driving conditions.

Camilli faced significant time losses, accruing 43 seconds over a 25-kilometer stretch and falling behind Bonato by more than a minute in the chase.

Bonato's performance places him in a strategic management position as he seeks a third consecutive victory at the Antibes event, having previously won in 2022 and 2023. Six special stages remain in the rally, with hopes that conditions will stabilize, preventing any last-minute shifts in standings.