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Thiriet and Catsburg: the closest of rivals

Thiriet and Catsburg: the closest of rivals

The TDS RACING team Drivers Pierre Thiriet and Nick Catsburg have built an impressive lead in the Eurocup Mégane Trophy. Separated by just three points, and with six races left to run, the battle of the brothers is as tight as ever. Meanwhile, Oregon Team’s Stefano Comini, McGregor by Equipe Verschuur’s Bas Schothorst and Boutsen Energy Racing’s Dimitri Enjalbert can only hope for a perfect result at Hockenheim to break the leaders' stranglehold.

The Eurocup Mégane Trophy for the first pays a visit to Hockenheim, a circuit where slipstreaming plays a major role and where the opportunities to overtake are many. It is to this backdrop, with its famous stadium, that Pierre Thiriet and Nick Catsburg will be attempting break the deadlock.

In only his second year in motorsport, Pierre Thiriet continues to surprise. Dependable since the start of the season, the Frenchman was delighted to celebrate his first success, on home turf at Magny-Cours. Finishing in the points in every race, including winner wins, two second places and one third place, the 21-year old Finance student knew just what was required of him to get the results he needed, taking him from outsider to favourite. The competition has built a healthy respect for him, aware that his sole aim is to claim the title.

Without doubt the fastest on the circuit, as demonstrated by this five pole positions, Catsburg is nevertheless aware that Thiriet is no ally, even though the relationship between the two teammates could not be friendlier. Within the TDS Racing team, the two drivers can also rely on Jean-Philippe Madonia, leader of the Gentlemen Drivers class and no stranger to the podium this season, as well as David Dermont who transferred from Boutsen Energy Racing during the summer, to steal points from the rest of the field.

Behind the leaders, the difference in points between Stefano Comini, Bas Schothorst and Dimitri Enjalbert is equally slim. After a near-perfect start to the season, Comini needs to get back into the groove following a catastrophic weekend in Hungary at which the Swiss driver failed to score a single point. For Schothorst and Enjalbert the challenge will be to chalk up their first win of the season. Having gone out with a bang in previous seasons Enjalbert needs to make a clean sweep in order to give himself a chance in the final sprint. Hockenheim is therefore double or quits for the Frenchman! At this point in the season he can in no way lay claim to the title as he still needs to find his form which has been until now been sadly lacking.

In terms of the Teams championship, TDS Racing has made the break from Oregon Team, Boutsen Energy Racing and McGregor by Equipe Verschuur.

In the Gentlemen Drivers class, Jean-Philippe Madonia, who is hoping for his third consecutive title, must contend with McGFashion by Verschuur’s Raymond Coronel, who seems intent on bringing down the Frenchman. Finally, McGregor by Equipe Verschuur's Hoevert Vos and Harrie Kolen, along with Oregon Team's Navajo could still have the final word.

Official Renault Sport Press Release

Posted: 03 September 2010
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