Hungaroring - Presentation Vandoorne as leader

The event taking place in Hungary will set the season at mid-course for the Auto Sport Academy’s drivers. Stoffel Vandoorne remains more than ever the man to beat. The RACB National Team driver has dug his advance and there are only a few more races to stop him in his rise for victory. The ‘Frenchies’ following behind, definitely mean to put an end to this. The best placed for the moment is Franck Matelli, 3rd victorious driver this season, but the gap between the two drivers is very important as 35 points separate them.

As from the Hungarian stage, and for the rest of the season, Pierre Nicolet will be yet another competitor for the leader Vandoorne to deal with. His name is not unknown in the world of motorsports as he is the son of Jacques Nicolet, confirmed gentleman-driver and owner of the OAK Racing Team present in the LMS Championship and whose prototypes classed themselves in 2nd and 4th position during the 24 Hour Le Mans Race in the LMP2 category.

Before facing the drivers of the F4 Eurocup 1.6, Pierre Nicolet was able to benefit of three test sessions. It is going to be very hard for him to measure himself face to drivers who have already competed 6 races. But the n°22 driver will dive into this competition with the will of doing his best...

Since the beginning of the season, and without doubt, Stoffel Vandoorne represents the proof of excellence. He accumulates podiums and totals no more than 4 victories. His competitors are however numerous. Franck Matelli has finally revealed himself on the Magny-Cours track as such. 3rd driver to have won this season, he has gone from 5th to 2nd rank. He is going to have to confirm his rise on the Hungaroring circuit. After a 2nd round without surprises, Norman Nato limited damages during the French stage. Twelve supplementary points and his place maintained on the provisional podium, he hopes to make a wonderful come-back and taste victory one more time.

In order to do this, he is going to have to surpass himself in Hungary even more so that Paul Lanchere is only one unit away from him. The French stage will have been a real catastrophe for him as he came back empty handed from Magny-Cours. He will therefore want to do better. During the last race, and for the very first time of the season, Jean-Baptiste Lahaye didn’t see the finishing line. He also will be Hungary with the strong will of wanting revenge.

With his two podiums gained in France, Mathieu Jaminet is well in the Championship. He is amongst the youngest drivers of the 2010 promotion and his fighting spirit makes him a serious rival. Just like Alexandre Mantovani who once again proved his maximum speed. All he needs now is to win a race. Pierre Sancinéna, Paul-Loup Chatin and Sébastien Le Bras must also strike hard if they wish to make the difference and reverse today’s tendency.

Tristan Papavoine is two points away from the Top Ten and entering it is his aim for this stage in Hungary. Nicolas De Moura and Alexandre Jouannem-Sivan obviously have the same plan. At Magny-Cours, they were not far from pocketing their first point. Let’s hope they will achieve this in Hungary. Alexandre Anezo, Valentin Simonet, the French-Swiss Maxime Raphoz, Maxime Bourcet, the Moroccan Hamza El Fatouaki and the two girls Marie Baus-Coppens and the Italian Giada De Zen – who will come first ? Answer Sunday evening...



SCHEDULE 

Friday 2nd July: free practice at 12.25pm & 5.45pm

Saturday 3rd July: qualifying session at 10.55am and race 1 at 5.20pm

Sunday 4th July: race 2 at 10.55am
 


- Blanca de Foronda -