EU Megane: Oschersleben preview

Heylen on a roll?

Jan Heylen (Racing for Belgium) has been putting together a string of victories since the very start of the Eurocup Megane Trophy: in six races, he has come home first five times and has extended the gap over Renaud Derlot (TP Competition). As we reach the mid-season mark this week-end, it is high time for the Belgian's rivals to rise to the challenge at the Oschersleben circuit.

Race by race, Jan Heylen continues to assert himself as the leader of the Eurocup Megane Trophy. His five victories in six races are proof of this! This result belongs as much to the Racing for Belgium team as it does to Heylen. Wim Coekelberg's men are determined to continue their march to victory. Despite success being thin on the ground this season, the Portuguese driver Cesar Campanico may still have a contribution to make by bringing home a victory of his own. The team now has a more Spanish feel, as Rodrigo Navarrete and Santiago Porteiro join Racing for Belgium.

Renaud Derlot, the only driver so far to have snatched a victory from Heylen, was off the pace in Bilbao. But the Frenchman will be determined to make up some of his 34 point deficit in Germany.

Five drivers separated by less than ten points are in a struggle for the third place in the overall standings. Ludovic Badey (Pouchelon Racing) heads this chasing group, having made it onto the podium at every meeting. But Jeffrey Van Hooydonk (Thierry Boutsen Racing), who has failed to make it into the points three times, will be looking to seize back the advantage. Despite being absent in Le Mans, Angel Burgueño (Team Elias) is still in fifth overall, just ahead of Nicola Gianniberti (Oregon Team) and Cesar Campanico.

Only a few points further back, Renaud Kuppens (Thierry Boutsen Racing), Pedro Petiz (Oregon Team) and Jean-Christophe Ravier (Epsilon Euskadi) complete the top 10 after each having had their fair share of bad luck in the opening races.

The list of possible winners does not end there. Frederic Gabillon (Team Lompech Sport), Simon Abadie (Tech 1 Racing) and Luis Miguel Reyes (Team Elias) are all eager to take their turn to climb onto the podium.

After being involved in an accident in Le Mans, Equipe Verschuur's second car will be back in action this weekend. This means team boss Frans Verschuur will once again be able to line up alongside Bernhard Ten Brinke.

With five drivers separated by only eleven points, the Junior standings are particularly hotly contested. Unlike Marc Benz (Iris Racing), Sebastien Dhouailly (Team Lompech Sport), Mathieu Lahaye (Tech 1 Racing) or Pedro Petiz, Mike Parisy (Gemo Sport) has yet to come home first! But the Frenchman owes his position as leader to his impressive consistency.

And though they may not be in the race for the overall standings, the gentlemen drivers are always ready to put on a show. For the time being, Antonio Aristi (Epsilon Euskadi) has had the better of Andreas Mayerl (Senn Motorsport), Jean-Yves Mallat (TP Competition), Philippe Mace (TP Competition) and Pascal Ballay (Energy Racing). But the battle looks set to rage again this weekend!

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