EU 1.6: Series Catalunya preview

Last round

The RACB National Team driver, Stoffel Vandoorne, has proven many times during the season to be the top man. Just like his predecessor and compatriot, Benjamin Bailly, the Belgian driver put an end to the suspense before the grand final by pocketing his title on the Silverstone track. He remains nevertheless, a serious competitor in this race to victory - even though he has already had the joy of stepping onto the highest step of the podium six times, he definitely hopes to finish the season by climbing onto it again. But his competitors have no intention in letting such a thing happen so easily^a

Norman Nato is without doubt the one who will be wanting to pocket another victory. Since his victory during the inaugural race, he has not been able to reiterate. He will be on the Catalunya circuit determined to end this season in a fashionable manner^a if not only to maintain his actual position! If we take off his two best results (which will be the case at the end of the last race), he only has 10 points of advance. Behind him, equal in points (87), we can find Paul-Loup Chatin, author of a splendid double victory in England, and the young Mathieu Jaminet, dominator in Hungary, 4th round of the season. Both are one point ahead on Franck Matelli and two on Paul Lanchere. But here again, if we take into account the point ranking regulations, the positions change. Paul-Loup Chatin and Franck Matelli are equally in 3rd position with 86 points, followed by Paul Lanchere, still credited with 85 points, and Mathieu Jaminet one point away from him! The fight for the final podium promises to be very exciting between the four boys who will be ignoring the highly scientific calculations and only adopting one strategy : attack!

In 7th position of the provisional classification, Alexandre Mantovani has doubtlessly the means to come and bother the head party. Since the beginning of the season, we could see his potential, but he was unable to confirm. With two podiums pocketed in Silverstone, this is now done and we can hope that victory is no longer far away. His pursuants, Pierre Sancinena and Jean-Baptiste Lahaye have not known the expected success but hope this last meeting will bring along a smile for them! For the first time of the season in the Top Ten, Tristan Papavoine will be doing all he can - respectively one and five points away from him, Sebastien le Bras and the young Nicolas De Moura will be watching out for the slightest mistake.

Alexandre Jouannem-Sivan, Valentin Simonet, Maxime Raphoz and Alexandre Anezo have not lived the best of seasons. Sometimes less experimented than their fellow drivers, they were not really able to confirm. Even though deception seems to be the best bet, their fighting spirits will take over and they will be doing their best to pocket some points. At last, let's hope the girls, Marie Baus Coppens and the very young Italian Giada De Zen, gain their first point on the occasion of this grand final - the same goes for Maxime Bourcet, Hamza El Fatouaki and Pierre Nicolet.

The next day after the very last race of the F4 Eurocup 1.6, the five most deserving drivers will be invited to a test onboard the Formula Renault 2.0 - now here's something to prepare the future!

-source: renault sport