Dufas aiming to beat them rather than join them in 2026

Dufas has already beaten them once – at the Estering in 2023. That weekend, he famously triumphed in only his third appearance on the international scene, bringing to an end an eight-year drought of French winners in the class. 

The Normandy native indicated his intention to contest a full season in Euro RX3 late last year, utilising the same Renault Clio with which he prevailed in Germany, but he has since elected to change tack. While remaining fully committed to the European Championship, he will instead join the fray behind the wheel of a newly-built car that, he teases, ‘isn’t seen on-track very often’. The project will be run by Aurélien Gérault’s RX Evolution outfit. 

“We’d been discussing the idea for a year or so,” Dufas is quoted as saying by French website, Pure Rallycross. “Our objective is to take the fight to the Audis, but we like a challenge so we didn’t necessarily want to do what some others do and buy an Audi. 

“In the French Championship, the Clio is capable of fighting for race wins, even against the Audi, but around certain European tracks – like Rīga, for example, where the lap includes several jumps – I don’t know if it would be quite as effective, since it wasn’t designed for circuit characteristics like that. We have therefore decided to go with another marque, with a different base and a philosophy better adapted to the demands of Euro RX. 

“We’re not looking to reinvent the wheel. We’re relying on proven solutions and the most important thing is to establish solid foundations, without making risky choices. What we are aiming for is a more well-rounded car, capable of performing at a high level in Europe while also remaining competitive in France.

“Developing a model that isn’t seen on-track very often in this category is very motivating. Two cars are currently under construction, and there could even be more. The target is for them to be ready by mid-to-late March so that we can get in a few test days and prepare as best as possible for the first round in Rīga.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how this turns out and how we measure up against everybody else. On paper, at least, the car we’re building has the potential to achieve strong results from the word ‘go’, and to take on the Audis in a class they have made their own.”

Indeed, you need to go all the way back to 2017 to find the last time a driver piloting anything other than an Audi A1 lifted the laurels in Euro RX3 / Super1600. Just under a decade on, Dufas is hoping to be the one to break the stranglehold and shake up the pack. 

The 29-year-old Caen-born ace’s last full season in the dual-surface discipline was 2021, since when, he has limited himself to occasional outings at both Euro RX3 / Super1600 and Euro RX1 / Supercar level, placing his primary focus on his role as Team Manager for Team Dufas in the domestic series.

While acknowledging that there is ‘a lot of work ahead’ to prepare for his new challenge, he is confident he has adopted the right strategy for success and is eager to see how he and his new steed shape up in the curtain-raising outing in Rīga on 9-10 May.

“I’m very excited by the prospect of a full programme in rallycross – even more so considering it’s in the European Championship,” Dufas enthused. “I really enjoyed the previous European rounds I did, and having the chance to drive on some truly iconic circuits is the kind of thing every rallycross driver dreams of. 

“We’ve got a packed programme ahead, but I really can’t wait to discover this new car. With the set-up and technical support that we have behind us, the potential is clearly there to achieve something special...”

Following the Latvian season-opener, competitors will do battle at Nyirád in Hungary (30-31 May), Höljes in Sweden (4-5 July), Mondello Park in Ireland (18-19 July), Lohéac in France (29-30 August) and finally Lousada in Portugal, where champions will be crowned on 12-13 September.