Eurocup Megane Trophy
The battles for the driver and team titles in the Eurocup Megane Trophy have already been decided, with Stefano Comini and his stable, Oregon Team, respectively coming out on top in double-quick time. Yet despite chalking up a record number of wins for a single season, the Swiss driver has no intention of easing off at the Paul Ricard HTTT. The Gentleman Drivers crown is still up for grabs, however, with David Dermont hoping to clinch the title ahead of TDS Racing team-mate Wim Beelen.
Nine wins in 10 races, 10 pole positions, six fastest laps and one second place. Those are the startling statistics that have made Stefano Comini the 2011 Eurocup Megane Trophy champion with four races still to go. The Swiss driver’s reward for succeeding 2010 champ Nick Castburg at Silverstone in August is a day’s test driving with Nissan, the result of an agreement Renault Sport Technologies has signed with NISMO.
Before he enjoys that little perk, however, Comini will be aiming to maintain his commanding form in the final meetings of the season at the Paul Ricard HTTT and Barcelona, two tracks where he has yet to win. With the driver and team titles safely secured, the Oregon Team driver is hoping to thrill the fans in France, though he is well aware that the remaining podium places and the Gentleman Drivers crown have yet to be decided.
Lying second in the standings at the moment is Niccolo Nalio, Comini’s stable mate and the only man to challenge his supremacy this term. With six top-three finishes and one race win to his name, the Italian has played his part in Oregon Team’s maiden championship triumph. His task now is to seal second place ahead of David Dermont (TDS Racing) and Bas Schothorst (TDS Racing), with Fabien Thuner (Boutsen Energy Racing), Grégory Guilvert (Team Lompech Sport) and Michele Faccin (Boutsen Energy Racing) also still in the hunt.
With Nalio and Dermont the only other drivers apart from Comini to have won a Eurocup Megane Trophy race, there should be no shortage of action at the Paul Ricard HTTT as the rest of the contenders look to break their ducks.
Third in the overall standings, with three podium places to his name, Dermont is also out in front in the Gentlemen Drivers category, where he has won eight times to open out a 61-point lead over team-mate Wim Beelen, the only man who can now catch him. The title will be Dermont’s however, should he end the weekend over 50 points clear of the Dutch challenger.
Fighting for third place behind them are Jean-Charles Miginiac (Team Lompech Sport), Jeroen Schothorst (TDS Racing) and Toni Forne (Pujolaracing), just one of the sub-plots that should keep Eurocup Megane Trophy fans on the edge of their seats at the Paul Ricard HTTT.
Official Renault Sport Press Release