Clementine Lhoste

 

Clémentine Lhoste is a French driver who specialises in ice racing, having won against both women and men.

She first came to prominence in the Andros Trophy during the 2015-16 season, winning the “Ice Girls” ladies’ trophy. This was a one-make series for Sprint Car cross-buggies. After a slow start to the season, she became a dominant force, winning six Superfinals and finishing fifty points ahead of her nearest rival, Aurore Louison. This was her first full season of ice racing, although she had taken part in some Trophée Féminin races the previous year. At sixteen, she was the youngest driver to race in the Andros Trophy. 

She was supported in her early racing attempts by Dominique Dubourg, himself an Andros regular. 

Her second full Andros Trophy was contested in the Electric car class, with the Loxam team. The entire championship is now electrically-powered, but it was then a separate one-make class and relatively new. She was seventh, with a best finish of fifth at Alpe d'Huez. 

Another season in the Electric class followed at the end of 2017, as Loxam’s only electric entry. She was sixth overall after a consistent set of races. The following year, she earned her first podium, a third place in the qualifying race at Isola 2000.

Moving on after the entire championship went electric, she was seventh in the Elite class during the 2019-2020 season, with a best finish of second at Val Thorens. Although Ice Girls no longer ran as a separate category, Clementine regained her Andros Coupe des Dames this year. This was her first year as a member of Sylvain Pussier’s team, driving alongside Pussier himself.

The following year, she was fourth in Elite, driving for Sylvain Pussier Competition. She won three rounds outright at Lans en Vercours and Val Thorens, finishing ahead of multiple women’s champion, Margot Laffite and just three points behind third-placed Natan Bihel. Pussier himself won the class championship, despite having the same number of wins as Clementine.

The Pussier team used the Loxam electric Peugeot 208 for the 2021-22 season. Clementine had her share of troubles, not always qualifying well, but she won the Superfinal of the Isola 2000 round outright on her way to a fourth place in the championship. She was second in the Lans en Vercours round, but then had an indifferent Super-Besse weekend, meaning that she could not catch Bihel for third.

She remained part of the Pussier set-up for the 2022-23 season as one of their Elite drivers, sharing the car with Jimmy Clairet. It was a frustrating year for her as she often struggled for pace in the Peugeot and she lost her Ladies' crown to Margot Laffite. 

She did train with the French RX Academy for young rallycross hopefuls in 2019, but prefers to compete on the ice in winter rather than the mud in summer.

(Image copyright Le Progres/DR)