Eurocup Clio
2011 Eurocup Clio champion Nicolas Milan (Team LMV CL Brakes) survived an eventful first lap and a determined challenge from Eric Tremoulet (Vic’ Team) to land his first win of the season in the Nouvelle Clio Cup. Joining them on the podium was Massimiliano Pedala (Composit Motorsport).
After a faultless performance in qualifying on Friday, Salvatore Arcarese (Composit Motorsport) started on pole ahead of Josh Files (Team Pyro), Christian Ricciarini (Composit Motorsport), Eric Tremoulet and Massimiliano Pedala.
Yet, with the sun finally making an appearance at Spa-Francorchamps, the Romanian’s race ended abruptly when he spun off at Raidillon on an incident-packed first lap. Josh Files took over at the front only to run off himself, with Nicolas Milan then surging past Eric Tremoulet to grab the lead.
The field shrank further when Florian Bernard (FB Racing) went off and Denis Gibaud (Milan Competition) retired, though there were no such problems for the front two as Eric Tremoulet began to apply pressure on a resolute Nicolas Milan. In the fight for third place Xavier Fouineau came under threat from Gonzalo Martin de Andres (SMC Junior Team) and Josh Files. The British driver eventually won that duel only to pick up a ten-second penalty for leaving the track.
Eric Tremoulet made an unsuccessful attempt to pass Nicolas Milan on the outside on lap nine, with the leader then enduring a nervy moment on the final lap when he nearly slid off at Pouhon, though he recovered his poise to take the flag by a narrow margin. Massimiliano Pedala claimed third place on the podium, ahead of Gonzalo Martin de Andres, Facundo Della Motta (Milan Competition), Daniele Perfetti (Seminole Racing Team) and Xavier Fouineau (Team LMV CL Brakes). Josh Files’ time penalty meant he could finish no higher than eight, while Belgian driver Stephane Lemeret (Team Lompech Sport) and David Dickenson (Team Pyro) picked up the last points on offer.
What they said
Nicolas Milan: “It was tricky at the start, with so many people going off, and the car was oversteering a little too. Once I got into the lead things were set up perfectly for me, though I knew Eric would leave it until the end of the race to try and get past. I just had to keep the doors closed, and it worked.”
Eric Trémoulet: “I had a great tussle with Nicolas and I was waiting to attack him. The situation was set up nicely for us at the start and when I got away from the rest I was able to stay with him. I was waiting for him to make a mistake and he was waiting for me to make one too. I couldn’t find an opening but I’m happy with my first podium finish all the same.”
Massimiliano Pedala: “I lost control of the car on lap two but managed to stay on the track. After that it was all about stringing the laps together and making sure of some championship points.”
Official Renault Sport Press Release.