- Winners of the inaugural Alpine A290 Rally Trophy, Melvin Rabilloud and Enzo Mahinc will contest the Rallye Antibes Côte d'Azur (14–17 May) driving an official Alpine A110 Rally.
- This initiative highlights the brand's commitment to supporting young talent through a structured development pathway and an attractive prize fund.
- Launched in March on the roads of Le Touquet, season two of the all-electric competition will reward the winning crew with a full Alpine Racing programme for 2027.
A few months after making history with their victory in the inaugural Alpine A290 Rally Trophy, Melvin Rabilloud and Enzo Mahinc are set to take the next step in their careers at Rallye Antibes Côte d'Azur. The crew will start round three of the 2026 French Rally Championship season at the wheel of an official Alpine A110 Rally shod with Michelin tyres.
A bridge between electric and combustion rallying
Last year at the Rallye de l'Indre-Buzançais, Melvin Rabilloud and Enzo Mahinc impressed immediately in the Alpine A290 Rally's first competitive kilometres, claiming the Alpine A290 Rally Trophy win and finishing eighth overall among internal combustion rivals.
The promised reward for winning the inaugural Alpine A290 Rally Trophy, an official entry into an iconic French Rally Championship round, is now becoming a reality, further reinforcing Alpine's commitment to its electric rally car program. This prize reinforces Alpine's commitment to establishing the Alpine A290 Rallye as a genuine rally car and a pathway to higher levels of the sport. Melvin Rabilloud and Enzo Mahinc will be the first to represent this new path Alpine has created between its programs.
Already an outright winner at Rallye Antibes Côte d'Azur, the Alpine A110 Rally will provide another valuable learning experience for the crew supported by Alpine Store Annecy. Backed by the experienced Chazel Technologie Course team in a highly professional environment, the duo will continue its development on roads renowned for their combination of spectacle and technical challenge, including iconic stages featuring the Col de Bleine, Col de Turini and Col de Braus.
A springboard for talent
This initiative reinforces Alpine Racing's ambition to go beyond a traditional feeder series. A specially designed technical framework, attractive prize pools, network involvement, and concrete sporting prospects make the Alpine A290 Rally Trophy a genuine talent-spotting platform.
At a time when reaching the highest levels of motorsport is becoming increasingly challenging, Alpine continues to reaffirm its long-standing commitment to discovering and nurturing emerging talent. This philosophy is deeply embedded in the brand's DNA, with young circuit racing prospects able to climb the ladder from the Alpine ELF Cup Series to the FFSA French GT Championship and ultimately GT3 competition in just a few years.
After competing under the Alpine Racing banner at Rallye Antibes Côte d'Azur, Melvin Rabilloud and Enzo Mahinc will resume their Alpine A290 Rally Trophy title defence, which started at e-Rallye Le Touquet – Paris Plage. This year, the Alpine A290 Rally Trophy spans six French Rally Championship rounds. It will offer €236,000 in prize money and final bonuses, including a new official programme set to be exceptional.
Melvin Rabilloud: "I'm incredibly proud to be able to compete in Rallye Antibes Côte d'Azur. It will undoubtedly be the biggest and greatest challenge of my career so far. It's a real opportunity to be thrown into one of the premier categories of the French Rally Championship, up against renowned drivers such as Yoann Bonato, Hugo Margaillan and Raphaël Astier. These are crews we're used to watching from afar, so I'm absolutely thrilled at the prospect of comparing our times. I'd like to sincerely thank Alpine for this opportunity. Through the Alpine A290 Rally Trophy, the brand is giving drivers who might not otherwise have the means the chance to prove they belong at the very top level. The main challenge will be getting as familiar as possible with the Alpine A110 Rally. It is very different from anything I've driven before. It's a rear-wheel-drive car with over 300 horsepower. The technology is advanced, featuring a highly sophisticated chassis and suspension. There are more elements to get to grips with, like ABS and traction control. We'll also be discovering all the preparatory work with the route note crews, as well as a rally that's completely new to us. We'll need to thoroughly prepare the pace notes. I've spent some time on the simulator, using Richard Burns Rally, which features the Alpine A110 Rally. We know we'll have to learn quickly. We're counting on our two test sessions and the experience of the Chazel Technologie Course team to guide us. With so many unknowns, the aim will be to make the most of this opportunity, close the gap stage after stage, and, why not, try to get close to the top ten overall. I also want to prove that you can make your dreams come true with determination and hard work. In any case, we'll give it our all to thank Alpine for creating the Alpine A290 Rally Trophy. Thank you as well to the Alpine Store Annecy for its support since the start of this adventure. Thanks also to my friends, family, and partners as none of this would be possible without them.”