EU V6: Dubai Grand Race summary

Danielsson dominates as Mondini moves closer...

The action never stops! Once again, the Eurocup FR V6 championship gave us a breathtaking race and had us on the edge of our seats as they hit the demanding Dubai Autodrome. At the finish line it was Sweden's Alex Danielsson (SRTS) who took the race win, against all predictions. Behind him came Jani (Dams) and Mondini (EuroInternational).

Race one in Dubai was looking full of Eastern promise, and in the end delivered a delightful race as the Formula Renault V6 drivers steered their machines around 15 action-packed laps. But then Danielsson took the reigns, having until then been a spectator of the ferocious battle for first between Van Lagen (Interwetten.com) and Jani (Dams). The two leaders came into contact, with Jani able to get right back into the race but which put paid to Van Lagen's hopes of victory, the Dutchman forced to retire shortly after.

Until this point of the race, we'd been treated to a show of motor racing at its very best. Danielsson's awesome start wasn't enough to stop Van Lagen storming to first position at turn one, while Belicchi (AFC Motorsport) was forced off the track after a slight coming-together with Sharp (Jenzer Motorsport).

Then on lap three a spin by Proetto left his car in a dangerous position. Result: out came the Safety Car. After a brief spell of follow-the-leader, the race director unleashed the baying pack, with Danielsson fastest from the restart and moving into the lead, only for Van Lagen to snatch his number one spot right back. A daring move by Montanari (Victory Eng SpA) on the leaders failed, instead ending in a run-off and damaged nose cone. Meanwhile the Dams boys were on the charge, but Lopez picked up a drive- through for leaving the pits on a red light on his way to the grid line-up!

With the pitstop section of the race looming, it was Van Lagen at the front, followed by Danielsson, Lopez (who came in for his penalty later), Jani and Rojas (Telmex Dams). Jani was first in, followed by Belicchi.

A fast tyre change by Jani preceded two fastest lap times for the Swiss driver on laps 11 and 12, until Montanari claimed the honours immediately after him.

Last to come in for fresh rubber was Mondini (EuroInternational), who had been slugging it out in the thick of the pack. But unlike his championship rival Sharp, the operation didn't cost him a second.

The new race order on 14 after everyone had pitted saw Van Lagen still ahead of the rest, followed by Jani, Danielsson and Mondini. But a bit further on Jani made his move on the leader, resulting in the contact that left the door open for Danielsson to slip into the lead and take the win; the first race victory for him and the SRTS team. A fine reward for Stanley Dickens and his crew.

Jani kept hold of second place, with Mondini finishing right behind him. But this rules Neel out of the title fight, while Mondini increases his lead over Sharp to ten points.

It all ends tomorrow, in what is sure to be an action-packed duel, and a fantastic finale!

<pre> DUBAI ROUNDS 19 & 20 - 07/10/04

Race 1 results 1 Alx Danielsson SRTS 22 laps in 46'13"494 2 Neel Jani Dams + 8"911 3 Giorgio Mondini Eurointernational + 9"361 4 Memo Rojas Dams + 15"162 5 Ryan Sharp Jenzer + 16"794 6 Damien Pasini Victory + 22"683 7 Andrea Belicchi AFC + 24"604 8 Edward Sandstrom SRTS + 25"475 9 Robert Bell Price + 25"647 10 Cesar Campanico Cram + 30"057 11 Marc Benz Jenzer + 31"810 12 Josè Maria Lopez Dams + 38"503 13 Sven Barth Interwetten + 39"100 14 Esteban Guerrieri Cram + 49"776 15 Hayanari Shimoda Price + 1'02"552 16 Christian Montanari Victory + 1 lap

Championship standings 1. Mondini 277 2. Sharp 267 3. Jani 239 4. Belicchi 230 5. Bell 156 6. Campaniço 154 7. Montanari 122 8. Pasini 108 9. Barth 102 10. Van Lagen 97

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