Formula Renault
EU Megane: Barcelona qualifying summary
Van Lagen not to be outdone Determined to take the title in style, Jaap Van Lagen (Equipe Verschuur) has secured both pole positions in the Eurocup Megane Trophy. He will be joined on the front row by Matthieu Lahaye (Tech 1 Racing) in both ...
Edited: Oct 31, 2006, 2:34 AM
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Van Lagen not to be outdone
Determined to take the title in style, Jaap Van Lagen (Equipe Verschuur) has secured both pole positions in the Eurocup Megane Trophy. He will be joined on the front row by Matthieu Lahaye (Tech 1 Racing) in both races. Further back, Frederic Gabillon (Team Lompech Sport), Jean-Philippe Dayraut (Epsilon Euskadi) and Cesar Campanico (Racing for Belgium) will be looking have their say in the duel between the two leaders.
The mist was still clinging to the Montmelo circuit when the first official qualifying session of the weekend got underway this morning. However, visibility was still good and the first Meganes took to the track immediately.
Eight minutes into the session and the favourites were also out on track trying to make the most of their first set of fresh tyres. Frederic Gabillon (Team Lompech Sport) was the first to set a time worth noting with a lap in 1'47''826: the fastest time in collective testing - set by Matthieu Lahaye (Tech 1 Racing) - had thus already been beaten!
Midway through the session, Jean-Philippe Dayraut (Epsilon Euskadi) then grabbed pole. The man from Toulouse went on to improve on his time on his second flying lap. But Gabillon was quick to reply and regained pole with a lap in 1'47''396, leaving Dayraut, Campanico, Hirschi and Lorgere-Roux in his wake. But there were two names still missing from this list: those of the two favourites Jaap Van Lagen and Matthieu Lahaye, who were holding out until the closing minutes.
With ten minutes to go, the session came under full yellow, meaning that qualifying was effectively suspended, after Jean-Philippe Madonia (TDS) crashed off. The drivers were able to resume their efforts with 8''30 to go until the chequered flag.
On his first flying lap, Jaap Van Lagen set the fastest time in 1'47''037 with only five minutes of the session left to run. Matthieu Lahaye then made his impact on the leading group by taking the third fastest time on his first lap. Next time round, the Frenchman was good for provisional pole despite Van Lagen improving on his time in the interim.
But the Dutchman was yet to have his final word, regaining the upper hand with just a minute to go! From there, there was no further change in the standings meaning both pole positions went to Van Lagen. An impressive result for the Eurocup leader, who had an awful start to the weekend when he wrecked his car in collective testing.
-credit: renault
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