Estoril - Presentation
In one corner, Michaël Rossi and the TDS Racing team, in the other, Maxime Martin and Boutsen Energy Racing. With only four races left this season, the Frenchman and the Belgian will continue their duel for the Eurocup Mégane Trophy in Portugal!
Leader of the pack ever since the first Eurocup Mégane Trophy race of the season, Frenchman Michaël Rossi has not tasted victory during the last two meetings. Beaten in four races in Germany and France, the TDS Racing driver has seen Belgium's Maxime Martin gaining on him.
The Boutsen Energy Racing driver has already heard the Belgian national anthem five times this seaon. One more victory would see him equal the record, set by his fellow countryman Jan Heylen in 2005, for the number of wins in one season. His latest success at Le Mans brought him within just seven points of Rossi. But the last time he got this close to the leader, Rossi struck back with a magnificent win
Despite his first win two weeks ago in front of a cheering crowd, Dimitri Enjalbert (Tech 1 Racing) can no longer hold out hope of a place on the final podium. Unless something extraordinary happens to change things, the Frenchman cannot steal the title with a forty-nine point deficit and with four races left this season. But he will still be looking for more victories to add to the list.
Fourth in the Eurocup, Mathieu Cheruy (Tech 1 Racing) is concentrating on maintaining his impressive consistency. Apart from Rossi and Martin, he is the only other driver to have finished every race of the season in the top ten. Having finished on the podium three times already this season, he will now be looking to add a few more top-three finishes to overtake his teammate in the overall standings!
Further podium finishes are also the aim of Dutchman Bernhard Ten Brinke (Equipe Verschuur), Frenchman Sébastien Dhouailly (Team Lompech Sport), Belgian David Dermont (Thierry Boutsen Energy Racing) and Swiss driver Jonathan Hirschi (Tech 1 Racing), all regular movers in the Eurocup.
Fabrice Walfisch (Oregon Team) meanwhile, is still chasing his first podium place. The Estoril circuit will be his chance to remedy this, as he has racked up nine top-ten finishes in ten races!
Having taken the lead in the Gentleman Drivers category in Germany, the Frenchman Jean-Philippe Madonia (TDS Racing) is still under pressure form Dutchman Hoevert Vos (Equipe Verschuur), Belgium's Bernard Delhez (Tech 1 Racing) and the Swiss driver Pierre Hirschi (Team Lompech Sport). These four drivers are separated by just fourteen points.
The Teams points table mirrors the Franco-Belgian duel. In the lead up to Estoril, the French teams (TDS Racing and Tech 1 Racing) are led by Belgian Team Boutsen Energy Racing. Eleven points separate the three teams.
N° Competitor (Country) Driver Country
1 TECH 1 RACING (FRA) Julien JOUSSE FRA
2 TECH 1 RACING (FRA) Charles PIC FRA
3 DRACO RACING (ITA) Bertrand BAGUETTE BEL
4 DRACO RACING (ITA) Marco BARBA ESP
5 CARLIN MOTORSPORT (GBR) Mikhail ALESHIN RUS
6 CARLIN MOTORSPORT (GBR) Robert WICKENS CAN
7 EPSILON EUSKADI (ESP) Mario ROMANCINI BRA
8 EPSILON EUSKADI (ESP) Alexandre MARSOIN FRA
9 PREMA POWERTEAM (ITA) Miguel MOLINA ESP
10 PREMA POWERTEAM (ITA) Alvaro BARBA ESP
11 RC MOTORSPORT (ITA) Claudio CANTELLI BRA
12 RC MOTORSPORT (ITA) Paolo Maria NOCERA ITA
14 PONS RACING (ESP) Aleix ALCARAZ ESP
15 PONS RACING (ESP) Marcos MARTINEZ ESP
16 KTR (BEL) Siso CUNILL ESP
17 KTR (BEL) Sergey AFANASIEV RUS
19 INTERWETTEN.COM RACING (AUT) Salvador DURAN MEX
20 INTERWETTEN.COM RACING (AUT) Pablo SANCHEZ MEX
21 P1 MOTORSPORT (GBR) Giedo Van Der GARDE NED
22 P1 MOTORSPORT (GBR) Pippa MANN GBR
23 FORTEC MOTORSPORT (GBR) James WALKER GBR
24 FORTEC MOTORSPORT (GBR) Fairuz FAUZY MAS
25 RED DEVIL COMTEC RACING (GBR) Marco BONANOMI ITA
26 RED DEVIL COMTEC RACING (GBR) Pasquale DiSABATINO ITA
27 ULTIMATE MOTORSPORT (GBR) Fabio CARBONE BRA
28 ULTIMATE MOTORSPORT (GBR) Esteban GUERRIERI ARG
- Blanca de Foronda-
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