Spa-Francorchamps Qualifying
Michaël Rossi (TDS Racing) was simply unbeatable during the first qualifying session of the season, taking both pole positions in the Eurocup Mégane Trophy. The success of TDS Racing was completed by the fastest lap set by Jean-Charles Madonia in the Gentlemen Drivers class.
The first qualifying session of the season in Eurocup Mégane Trophy. Each driver's best time will decide the line-up for race one, their second best gives their position on the grid in race two.
The session got under way with a red flag following a run off by Wim Beelen (Equipe Verschuur) on the hill at Eau Rouge. The driver was unharmed, but his Mégane Trophy was seriously damaged.
The session resumed for a little over 15 minutes, the Eurocup Mégane Trophy drivers having no choice but to set a time immediately. However, the session had to be halted once again before any of the drivers had completed a fast lap. This time, it was Ralph Meichtry (Race Performance) who lost control of his car in the same spot as Beelen, up the Raidillon at l'Eau Rouge.
It continued for 12 minutes. At the end of the first flying lap, Michaël Rossi was on top, ahead of Sébastien Dhouailly (Team Lompech), Bernhard Ten Brinke (Equipe Verschurr), Fabrice Walfish (Oregon Team) and Matthieu Cheruy (Tech 1 Racing). Ten Brinke hit back to take second position.
The session remained open right up to the chequered flag. Michaël Rossi improved his time and confirmed provisional pole position with a time of 2'29''179. At the same time, Rossi also recorded the second fastest lap, which places him in pole position for each of the two races.
The Tech1 Racing drivers staged a comeback. It was now Dimitri Enjalbert (Tech 1 Racing) in second, just in front of teammate Jonathan Hirschi. The latter's fastest time would later be disqualified for failing to follow the correct course route, allowing Ten Brinke to pick up a place.
It is Michaël Rossi then, who is the first to take pole this season. For Saturday's race, he will start ahead of Dimitri Enjalbert. On Sunday, it will be Bernhard Ten Brinke who shares the front row.
In the Gentlemen Drivers category, Jean-Philippe Madonia (TDS Racing) claimed both pole positions, reinforcing the domination of TDS Racing on the Belgian circuit.
Michaël Rossi: «With two red flags, qualifying was action packed. There was a lot of traffic out there at the end of the session. The car is absolutely perfect. The season has started well, now I just have to win!»
Dimitri Enjalbert: «Yesterday, everyone was going through the Raidillon at l'Eau Rouge with no problems. Today there is less grip, it was more tricky. I really had to force myself to keep my foot on the accelerator and set a quick time. Michaël Rossi is very quick here. My goal is to pick up some serious points in each race; it's consistency that will make the difference this season.»
POS NUMBER DRIVER TEAM LAP TIME GAP_FIRST KPH LAPS
1 12 Michaël ROSSI TDS 8 2:29.179 - 169.0 8
2 1 Dimitri ENJALBERT Tech 1 Racing 1 8 2:29.925 +0.746 168.2 9
3 7 Bernhard TEN BRINKE Equipe Verschuur 1 9 2:30.030 +0.851 168.0 10
4 8 Maxime MARTIN Boutsen Energy Racing 7 2:30.056 +0.877 168.0 8
5 15 Sébastien DHOUAILLY Team Lompech Sport 6 2:30.057 +0.878 168.0 8
6 3 Jonathan HIRSCHI Tech 1 Racing 2 7 2:30.413 +1.234 167.6 10
7 2 Matthieu CHERUY Tech 1 Racing 1 7 2:30.499 +1.320 167.5 10
8 22 Renaud KUPPENS Boutsen Energy Racing 9 2:30.512 +1.333 167.5 9
9 24 Fabrice WALFISCH Oregon Team 1 6 2:30.563 +1.384 167.4 9
10 14 Jean - Philippe MADONIA TDS 8 2:31.599 +2.420 166.3 9
11 25 Giuseppe TERMINE Oregon Team 1 6 2:31.756 +2.577 166.1 9
12 21 Hoevert VOS Equipe Verschuur 2 8 2:32.663 +3.484 165.1 9
13 4 Bernard DELHEZ Tech 1 Racing 2 8 2:32.778 +3.599 165.0 9
14 11 Andreas MAYERL Race Performance 8 2:32.928 +3.749 164.9 9
15 9 David DERMONT Boutsen Energy Racing 9 2:33.330 +4.151 164.4 9
16 73 Angelo BAIGUERA Oregon Team 1 9 2:38.532 +9.353 159.0 9
17 17 Pierre HIRSCHI Team Lompech Sport 7 2:40.469 +11.290 157.1 9
18 6 Harrie KOLLEN Equipe Verschuur 1 7 2:40.567 +11.388 157.0 8
19 16 Jean - Charles MIGINIAC Team Lompech Sport 6 2:42.001 +12.822 155.6 8
20 18 Rafael UNZURRUNZAGA Blue Jumeirah Team 8 2:45.720 +16.541 152.1 9
21 10 Ralph MEICHTRY Race Performance 0 2
22 20 Wim BEELEN Equipe Verschuur 2 0 1
POS NUMBER DRIVER TEAM TIME GAP_FIRST GAP_PREVIOUS
1 12 Michaël ROSSI TDS 2:29.901 - -
2 7 Bernhard TEN BRINKE Equipe Verschuur 1 2:30.048 +0.147 +0.147
3 1 Dimitri ENJALBERT Tech 1 Racing 1 2:30.087 +0.186 +0.039
4 8 Maxime MARTIN Boutsen Energy Racing 2:30.281 +0.380 +0.194
5 2 Matthieu CHERUY Tech 1 Racing 1 2:30.607 +0.706 +0.326
6 3 Jonathan HIRSCHI Tech 1 Racing 2 2:30.620 +0.719 +0.013
7 24 Fabrice WALFISCH Oregon Team 1 2:30.899 +0.998 +0.279
8 22 Renaud KUPPENS Boutsen Energy Racing 2:31.258 +1.357 +0.359
9 14 Jean - Philippe MADONIA TDS 2:31.738 +1.837 +0.480
10 25 Giuseppe TERMINE Oregon Team 1 2:32.506 +2.605 +0.768
11 11 Andreas MAYERL Race Performance 2:33.002 +3.101 +0.496
12 21 Hoevert VOS Equipe Verschuur 2 2:33.093 +3.192 +0.091
13 9 David DERMONT Boutsen Energy Racing 2:33.662 +3.761 +0.569
14 4 Bernard DELHEZ Tech 1 Racing 2 2:33.792 +3.891 +0.130
15 15 Sébastien DHOUAILLY Team Lompech Sport 2:35.389 +5.488 +1.597
16 73 Angelo BAIGUERA Oregon Team 1 2:39.067 +9.166 +3.678
17 17 Pierre HIRSCHI Team Lompech Sport 2:40.496 +10.595 +1.429
18 6 Harrie KOLLEN Equipe Verschuur 1 2:40.861 +10.960 +0.365
19 16 Jean - Charles MIGINIAC Team Lompech Sport 2:42.902 +13.001 +2.041
20 18 Rafael UNZURRUNZAGA Blue Jumeirah Team 2:45.876 +15.975 +2.974
21 10 Ralph MEICHTRY Race Performance
22 20 Wim BEELEN Equipe Verschuur 2
- Blanca de Foronda-
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