Third in the 2023 FIA European CrossCar Championship, Valentin Comte has confirmed his participation in the upcoming second round of the RallyX season, which takes place this weekend at the Valkenswaard circuit in the Netherlands.
Having been crowned French Junior Rallycross Champion in 2018 and later securing third place in the French Super1600 Championship in 2019, Comte has since made a successful transition to CrossCar competition.
A consistent force in the FIA European Championship – with fourth-place finishes in 2022 and 2024 and a podium in 2023 – Comte has three wins and a total of seven podiums to date.
Now aligned with chassis manufacturer Rapace, Comte is looking to showcase the Rapace XC’s performance on the RallyX arena.
“My main goal in Valkenswaard is to get back in shape before the start of the FIA European Championship,” explained Comte. “I had a few different options to prepare my season, but I’ve wanted to compete in RallyX for so long that I couldn’t pass it up. It’s also the perfect opportunity to debut our Rapace XC chassis in RallyX. With so many different manufacturers in the series, it’s a great opportunity to compete against the best.”
One thing is clear: the 24-year-old French driver is eager to experience the unique atmosphere of RallyX.
“I have been dreaming of competing in the RallyX series for years. I’ve followed the Eriksson family since I was a kid and I really admire them. When I look at the entry list for this weekend, it’s just unbelievable. Whether in CrossCar or in the other categories, the level is top class. Eriksson, McConnell… I used to watch them race when I was in rallycross – those names were already legends to me. To be on the same starting grid with them will be something special. When I was little I used to spend hours watching videos of this track. It’s a rallycross classic. I really hope to be able to race at the Estering in August, another legendary track I’ve always dreamed of.”
Ahead of the Dutch round, Comte has already started a detailed preparation process.
“For the last two days I’ve been watching onboard footage of Valkenswaard non-stop. The joker lap doesn’t seem too difficult and doesn’t cost too much time, so it should lead to some close battles on the track. I’ll continue to study the layout this week to memorize every corner. The gravel section looks pretty loose and the transition to asphalt could make a big difference. Although I have experience in rallycross, I’ve never driven a CrossCar on a mixed surface track, except for an event at Maggiora when I was just starting out. So I’m curious to see how well I can adapt.”