After three seasons on the regional circuit, the Rallye Beauce-Appalaches made its official debut on the Canadian Rally Championship (CRC) calendar in 2026, taking over the fall date previously held by Rallye Défi. With no fewer than 34 entries on the start list, the stage was set for intense battles across the region’s gravel and tarmac roads.

Besner and Gaudreau Take Victory in a Brand-New Machine

Before the rally even got underway, Jean-Sébastien Besner and Hubert Gaudreau sprang a major surprise by arriving with a brand-new car rather than their Ford Fiesta Proto R they registered with. It was behind the wheel of a Škoda Fabia Evo 2 Rally2, acquired just weeks prior to the event, that the crew took the start. Following a brief period of acclimation, they took control of the rally, setting fastest stage times on 20 of the 27 scheduled stages to seal overall victory.

Battle for the Overall Podium

Teaming up for the very first time, Alex Moreau and co-driver Leah Brisset showcased immediate chemistry. Claiming four stage wins, they kept the pressure on the leaders all weekend long to secure an impressive 2nd place overall, finishing just 43.9 seconds adrift of top spot.

Former CRC champions Jérôme Mailloux and Philippe Poirier (TEST Racing) completed the podium in their Subaru WRX STI, having posted two benchmark times while showing trademark consistency within the top three.

Standout Drive in the Prepared Class

Michael Dimkovski and Simon Levac turned in one of the most remarkable performances of the weekend. Despite limited seat time compared to the rest of the top eight, they powered their Can-Jam Motorsports-prepared Subaru WRX STI to a stunning 4th place overall, simultaneously capturing top honors in the Prepared class (formerly Production).

Two-Wheel Drive: Leblanc3 Rally Team Undefeated

Holding the class lead prior to the start, the crew of André and René LeBlanc guided their Ford Fiesta Rally4 to the finish without incident to take the win in 2WD. They finished 2 minutes 33.3 seconds clear of the runner-up pairing of Maxime Galpin and Théo Mallet (Peugeot 208 Rally4).

Dave St-Pierre and Éric Dubé (Ford Fiesta R2) crossed the line an additional 3 minutes 11 seconds back to complete the 2WD podium.

A Milestone for the Toyota GR Corolla

The event was also highlighted by an eagerly awaited debut: father-and-son duo Dave and Christopher Nadeau contested their very first national rally aboard a freshly prepared Toyota GR Corolla out of the CAS Compétition team. Entered in the Prepared 4WD class, it stands as the first privateer GR Corolla to compete in a North American rally.

Blessed with ideal weather conditions, high-caliber competition, and stunning landscapes, this inaugural national edition of the Rallye Beauce-Appalaches proved to be a resounding success. See you next year!

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Photos : @enzosepu_phvid

Text : Frédéric Senterre