Formula Renault

EU 2.0: Series Le Mans preview

Vergne accosts leaders With only four points separating them, neither Antonio Felix da Costa (Motopark Academy) not Albert Costa (Epsilon Euskadi) has been able to break away from the other! Jean-Eric Vergne (SG Formula) has been able to take ...

Published: Oct 2, 2009, 4:39 PM

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Vergne accosts leaders

With only four points separating them, neither Antonio Felix da Costa (Motopark Academy) not Albert Costa (Epsilon Euskadi) has been able to break away from the other! Jean-Eric Vergne (SG Formula) has been able to take advantage of the situation and is back on form as Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 heads to Le Mans. With Miki Monras (SG Formula), Adrian Quaife-Hobbs (Motopark Academy) and Nathanael Berthon (Epsilon Euskadi) all ready to pounce, the French round of promises to be something special.

Holiday time has not yet arrived for the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 teams. Just a fortnight after an eventful English leg, the pressure is mounting for all the drivers ahead of this year's crucial Le Mans round, situated before the summer break.

After regularly finishing on the podium, with three second-places, there was one important thing missing in Antonio Felix da Costa's record this season. By driving to victory in the first race last weekend at Silverstone, ahead of Albert Costa and Jean-Eric Vergne, the Motopark Academy driver made the perfect start to the weekend. However, for the first time of the season, the Portuguese driver had to retire from race 2, after a coming-together with his closest rival Albert Costa.

Having been leading neck-and-neck all season, Antonio Felix da Costa and Albert Costa both had a lot to lose in this race incident. The pair know each other very well, have been racing against each other since karting days and are good friends. A frank and open exchange between the two boys was enough to clear the air.

Jean-Eric Vergne, following a relatively disappointing start to the season, has taken full advantage of the situation to get back into the title chase. With forty-six points from two meetings, the Frenchman is now third in the overall standings, so he is sure to be highly motivated as he returns to familiar hunting ground, Le Mans being practically Jean-Eric Vergne's second home. After winning in Hungary and in England, another success would be enough to revive the SG Formula driver's championship hopes.

Obviously, these three names will not be the only ones fighting for victory. Hot on Jean-Eric Vergne's tail, Miki Monras and Adrian Quaife-Hobbs also have their word to say. Both drivers have been on the podium three times, but haven't yet managed to claim a race win. In sixth place in the overall standings, Nathanael Berthon already has one victory under his belt. Like Arthur Pic (SG Formula), Hugo Valente (SG Formula) and Arno Santamato (Pole Services), the other Frenchman competing in Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0, Berthon has the benefit of home turf.

Other drivers to watch, who have already turned heads this season, will be Kevin Magnussen (Motopark Academy), Nico Muller (Jenzer Motorsport), Adam Kout (Krenek Motorsport) and Patrick Kronenberger (Iquick Valencia). After a good performance in Hungary, Kuba Giermaziak (Motopark Academy) will be looking to impress again.

Oliver Webb (Fortec Motorsport), James Calado (Fortec Motorsport) and Will Stevens (Fortec Motorsport) will also be lining up at Le Mans. Leader of Formula Renault 2.0 UK, Oliver Webb was a hair's breadth away from picking up points in Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 at Barcelona. James Calado, one of his UK rivals, was in the points at Barcelone and Spa. Without a doubt, any of these three drivers are capable of seizing the opportunity to impress on the European stage.

-credit: wsr

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