31/08/08 - Nurburgring Race 2
The three leaders in the Eurocup Mégane Trophy general standings did themselves justice today as they fought for victory. Refueling strategy was the key to this race. Dimitri Enjalbert (Tech 1 Racing) lost out by stopping too early, while Maxime Martin (Thierry Boutsen Energy Racing) came out of the pits ahead of Michaël Rossi (TDS). Martin held him off right to the finish to take the race.
During the formation lap, the winner of the first race, David Dermont, ground to a halt in his Mégane and didn't even make the start. Race Control made the competitors drive another formation lap. Ludovic Badey stalled and was forced to start from the back of the grid. As a consequence of all this, the race length was changed to 38 minutes plus one lap.
Michaël Rossi made a clean start today and pulled in front of Dimitri Enjalbert and Maxime Martin. Matthieu Cheruy (Tech 1 Racing) was the only driver to make an error and rejoined the race at the back of the pack.
Rossi, Enjalbert and Martin pulled away in tight formation. Fourth, Jonathan Hirschi (Tech 1 Racing) fought off attacks from Fabrice Walfish (Oregon Team). Walfish was losing ground quickly. He even allowed himself to be caught up by Jean-Philippe Madonia (TDS) in sixth. Madonia saw his chance at the end of the start-finish straight on the fifth lap.
The lead trio were unable to break away from each other. The three Championship leaders were still bumper to bumper. Meanwhile, Enjalbert decided to make his obligatory stop and pulled into the pits 27 minutes from the chequered flag. He pulled out into traffic and lost a few precious seconds.
Michaël Rossi and Maxime Martin refueled on the following lap. The Belgian managed to exit the pits ahead of Rossi. Enjalbert lost contact. Rossi tried to find an opening against Maxime Martin who countered well. Neither driver was giving anything away. The championship second-place man held off the leader, while Dimitri Enjalbert was a solid third.
Up until the end, the fight between Martin and Rossi was undecided. But in sight of the finish, Martin opened up the gap and crossed the line first. The Belgian snatched his fourth win of the season ahead of Michaël Rossi and Dimitri Enjalbert. The championship table is still wide open. Rossi leaves the Nürburgring with a twelve point lead over Maxime Martin. With two wins this weekend, Thierry Boutsen Energy Racing is at the top of the Team standings.
Maxime Martin: »We won the race in the pits, but also on the track as I had to fight Michaël all the way to the line. That wasn't easy. This result is very important for the Championship. There's plenty of the season left to run!»
Rossi: «I started the race well, I really pushed hard, but we made a bad pit-stop. Two pole positions and no win isn't ideal, but what counts is to have scored points for second place in two races."
Dimitri Enjalbert: «After retiring in the first race, I really wanted to win today. I made a good start, the car was going very well. We stopped one lap ahead of the others, but overall we lost time because we had trouble getting into the refueling lap. I'm going to have to take risks at Le Mans to win.»
Pos Number Driver Team Laps Time GapFirst KPH
1 8 Maxime MARTIN Boutsen Energy Racing 19 41:06.094 - 146.4
2 12 Michaël ROSSI TDS 19 41:08.050 +1.956 146.3
3 1 Dimitri ENJALBERT Tech 1 Racing 1 19 41:09.588 +3.494 146.3
4 3 Jonathan HIRSCHI Tech 1 Racing 2 19 41:28.088 +21.994 145.0
5 14 Jean - Philippe MADONIA TDS 19 41:31.705 +25.611 144.7
6 23 Ludovic BADEY TDS 19 41:36.026 +29.932 145.0
7 7 Bernhard TEN BRINKE Equipe Verschuur 1 19 41:46.625 +40.531 144.0
8 2 Matthieu CHERUY Tech 1 Racing 1 19 41:48.967 +42.873 144.8
9 24 Fabrice WALFISCH Oregon Team 1 19 41:57.851 +51.757 143.8
10 20 Wim BEELEN Equipe Verschuur 2 19 42:04.027 +57.933 144.0
11 17 Pierre HIRSCHI Team Lompech Sport 19 42:13.674 +1:07.580 143.0
12 21 Hoevert VOS Equipe Verschuur 2 19 42:18.780 +1:12.686 143.9
13 16 Jean - Charles MIGINIAC Team Lompech Sport 19 42:42.207 +1:36.113 142.4
14 73 Angelo BAIGUERA Oregon Team 1 19 43:16.802 +2:10.708 139.3
15 15 Joel DHOUAILLY Team Lompech Sport 18 41:21.390 1 Lap 140.0
18 Rafael UNZURRUNZAGA Blue Jumeirah Team 14 33:20.708 137.9
4 Bernard DELHEZ Tech 1 Racing 2 18 41:12.232 142.3
11 Andreas MAYERL Race Performance 18 43:18.419 142.6
6 Harrie KOLEN Equipe Verschuur 1 17 41:48.098 141.4
9 David DERMONT Boutsen Energy Racing 0
- Blanca de Foronda-
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