Open to 17–26-year-olds holding a standard driving licence, the selection process is intentionally straightforward and inclusive: participants pay a symbolic €20 entry fee, with no competition licence required. The process begins with regional selections — focusing on fundamental skills like slalom driving, emergency braking and controlled turns — before moving on to a national final where participants are evaluated on a mix of driving ability, technical feedback reception, and mental composure. Finalists are then offered tailored development programmes, including competitions in the French Rally Chanpionship.

Over the years, the initiative has proven to be a launchpad for some of rallying’s biggest names: Sébastien Loeb, Sébastien Ogier, Éric Camilli, Stéphane Lefebvre, Yohan Rossel, and Adrien Fourmaux all took their first steps through Rallye Jeunes. Their journeys are a testament to the programme’s ability to identify raw talent and support it through the early stages of a competitive career.

Pierre Gosselin, President of the FFSA, said: “For over 30 years, the Fédération Française du Sport Automobile has been nurturing new champions through the Rallye Jeunes FFSA Yacco programme. This unique and accessible experience continues to offer thousands of candidates each season the opportunity to aim for the highest level of motorsport.”

In recent years, Rallye Jeunes has embraced a new phase of modernisation and outreach. In 2024, for the first time, a sim racing selection was launched during the Paris Games Week — inviting virtual drivers to compete for a real-world rallying opportunity. This expansion into digital motorsport reflects a wider effort to keep pace with a younger, more connected generation, and to remove traditional entry barriers by lowering costs and adapting to new platforms.

The programme is also broadening its scope in terms of inclusion. A women-only selection is planned for 2025, a move that echoes a growing commitment in global motorsport to ensure that gender no longer defines opportunity. The combination of low-cost entry, talent-first philosophy, and targeted inclusion efforts makes Rallye Jeunes a unique model among national development programmes.

Its evolution is not only in step with the realities of the sport today, but also with a wider vision embraced at international level — one that prioritises accessibility, equity, grassroots development and sustainable innovation. From its transparent selection structure to its emphasis on identifying emerging talent and providing affordable, competitive machinery, Rallye Jeunes embodies many of the principles that are now being echoed in broader motorsport governance. Its e-sport integration and upcoming all-female intake show a clear intent to reshape the entry pathways into rallying — not just for the few, but for the many.

After 30 years, Rallye Jeunes FFSA remains a driving force in French motorsport. But more than that, it has become a powerful example of how national programmes can evolve in line with a global ambition: to make motorsport more inclusive, modern, and open to the next generation of champions.