EU 2000: Donington Park preview

First match point!

Just like Robert Kubica in Formula Renault 3.5, Michael Ammerm0x00fcller (Jenzer Motorsport) could take the title this weekend. To succeed Scott Speed as champion, the German needs to deliver the kind of faultless performance that he was regularly producing at the start of the season. But his rivals would also have to be struck by serious misfortune and not score any points. So to stay in the hunt for the title, Yann Clairay (SG Formula), Kamui Kobayashi (Prema Power Team) and Carlo Van Dam (SG Formula) cannot afford to make the slightest mistake!

The other Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 drivers have spent most of season contemplating the no. 11 car's rear wing. In fact, Michael Ammerm0x00fcller has led for close to 60% of the time during this year's races! A level of domination that has produced victories in six out of the ten races. No surprise, then, that the German is his usual relaxed self in the run-up to this weekend's meeting. He can control proceedings between now and the end of the season thanks to a comfortable 45-point lead.

As the season has unfolded, Yann Clairay has remained Ammerm0x00fcller's fiercest rival. After winning the French Championship with Romain Grosjean last weekend in Albi, the SG Formula team is determined for the French driver to add to their haul of victories. A week after taking part in the N0x00fcrburgring 1,000km in a LMP2 prototype, Yann is all fired-up to hunt down his rival!

Italian FR2.0 Championship leader with three races to go, ahead of -- you guessed it -- Ammerm0x00fcller, Kamui Kobayashi would dearly love to reproduce his national championship form in the Eurocup. With two wins in the bag, the Japanese driver must be quicker in qualifying -- he is yet to take a pole position -- to improve his chances of winning.

Fourth driver in the race for the title, Carlo Van Dam needs to raise his game if he is to maintain his slim chances of championship glory. The Dutch driver has only two top-three finishes to his name, but his overall consistency has allowed him to remain in the leading group.

Impressive in the streets of Bilbao, Adrian Zaugg had a more testing time in Oschersleben. Ammerm0x00fcller's teammate is nonetheless one of the category's rising stars.

Consistent challengers for a podium spot, Bertrand Baguette (Epsilon Euskadi) and Junior Strous (Mr. Glow Motorsport) may also have the top step of the podium in their sights, if everything comes together for them. The other drivers worth highlighting, Filipe Albuquerque (Motopark Oschersleben), Alan Hellmeister (JD Motorsport) and Hiroyuki Matsumura (Graff Racing) will all want to end the season on a high.

Only one British team is running in Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0, Comtec Racing. Unfortunately, it will not be able to call upon the services of Westley Barber, who is still suffering from an ear infection. He will be replaced by Brazilian driver Gustavo Sondermann, who is currently driving in Stock Car V8 Light back home. Gustavo will line up alongside the ever-charming Pippa Mann, who will not however be the only home nation representative. Cram Comp0x00e9tition have also entered Benjamin Hanley, who won the last two Italian Formula Renault 2.0 Championship races last weekend in Misano!

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