Eurocup Mégane Trophy
The huge lead Bas Schothorst (TDS Racing) once enjoyed over Albert Costa (Oregon Team) has melted away to leave just four points separating the Dutchman from the Spaniard as they head to the Paul Ricard. The tension continues to rise as the finishing line approaches, and although Bas Schothorst still retains the lead in the standings, he has no option but to prevent his increasingly confident rival from continuing his comeback charge.
The season could not have started better for Bas Schothorst as he racked up four wins in a row, prompting the pundits to tip the Dutchman to match Stefano Comini’s haul of 11 race wins in lifting the 2011 Eurocup Megane Trophy. The TDS Racing driver continued in much the same vein at the Nürburgring, where he followed up third place in Race 1 with his fifth success of the campaign.
Since then, however, little has gone right for Bas Schothorst. Only sixth and fifth in Russia, and then fifth and fourth in Hungary, he is under pressure to get back on top of the podium at the Paul Ricard, where he won his first race in this category last year.
Albert Costa’s season has been the exact reverse of Bas Schothorst. The former single-seater driver, who won the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 title three years ago and has a Formula Renault 3.5 Series race win to his name, struggled to find his feet in the first two meetings. A maiden Eurocup Megane Trophy success at the Nürburgring triggered his title challenge, however, and a further win at the Moscow Raceway followed by a double in Hungary have put him right back in the hunt. Just four points adrift, the in-form Barcelona man is now dreaming of clinching the title on home soil next month.
As he continues his quest, the Oregon Team driver can count on the support of stable-mates Kevin Gilardoni, Niccolo Nalio and Fabien Thuner. Third in the standings, Kevin Gilardoni has also settled in quickly to the Megane Trophy, collecting three podium finishes to date and is now intent on claiming a race win. A victor at the Moscow Raceway, Fabien Thuner is still in the hunt for third overall, an objective that Nalio also has his sights on.
Since making his return to the category, current Clio Cup Italy leader Stefano Comini (Team Lompech Sport) has enjoyed two identical weekends, with a second place and a retirement in both Russia and Hungary. With only two rounds remaining, the Swiss will be anxious to secure a win for his team.
In the Gentlemen Drivers’ competition, meanwhile, Jean-Charles Miginiac (Team Lompech Sport) stands on the brink of the title. Currently 85 points clear of nearest challenger Jeroen Schothorst (TDS Racing), the Frenchman only needs to end the Paul Ricard meeting with a 50-point advantage to be crowned champion, which should be a formality based on his current form.
Finally, Equipe Verschuur will be making its return to the category at the French racetrack, where Franz Verschuur will be sending out two Megane Trophy cars, one for Richard Kressner, who made four appearances last year, and the other for Jakub Knoll. The Czech, who has Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 experience and now drives in the GT series, is making his first Eurocup Megane Trophy appearance.
Official Renault Sport Press Release.