EU Megane: Nurburgring preview

Tight at the top

Ludovic Badey (TDS) and Cesar Campanico (Racing for Belgium), clear leaders going into the Misano meeting, saw Jaap Van Lagen (Equipe Verschuur) and Jean-Philippe Dayraut (Epsilon Euskadi) come back at them strongly in Italy. Only fourteen points cover the first four. Before the summer break, they will all be trying to move clear in Nurburgring.

Eurocup Megane Trophy leader since Istanbul, Ludovic Badey is focused on remaining consistent. Second in race one at Misano, he was on his way to his sixth podium finish in six races when he fell victim to the over-exuberance of Ferrara. His enforced retirement proved expensive for the Frenchman, who saw his championship lead cut to four points.

Jaap Van Lagen's second win of the season brought him back to just behind the leader. Although he is taking part in the World Series Formula Renault 3.5 races in Spa this weekend with Comtec Racing, the Dutch driver has decided to focus exclusively on winning the Megane Trophy title. As the only driver to have picked up points in every race so far, Jaap will attempt to keep his record going in Nurburgring.

Another driver with two wins to his name, including one in Misano, Jean-Philippe Dayraut is now only ten points adrift of Badey. The French driver first experienced the Nurburgring circuit during the collective testing organized by Renault Sport at the start of April this year. In his first few laps in a Megane Trophy with the Epsilon Euskadi team, Jean-Philippe already showed that he was one of the quickest drivers!

Although all was not lost in Italy thanks to a runner-up spot, Cesar Campanico was unable to close the gap to Badey. Despite trailing by fourteen points, the Portuguese driver knows everything is still to play for, given that a win is worth fifteen points! Often quick in the practice sessions, the Racing for Belgium driver will attempt to turn his testing form into results in Germany with another win!

After claiming his first podium finish two weeks ago, Ralph Meichtry (Race Performance) looks ready to go for a win. In the space of three meetings, the Swiss driver has achieved something that Renaud Kuppens (Thierry Boutsen Racing), Bernhard Ten Brinke and Jeroen Reijntjens (Equipe Verschuur) would dearly love to match...

Behind the leading contenders, the Juniors lie in wait, ready to grab a podium finish or even a win! For the moment, the best placed Junior is Matthieu Lahaye. He will team up at Tech 1 Racing with Bruce Lorgere-Roux, who was impressive on his debut in the category in Istanbul. It will also be worth watching the likes of Luigi Ferrara (Oregon Team), Pedro Petiz (Iris Racing), Miguel Freitas (Racing for Belgium), James Kirkpatrick (Epsilon Euskadi) and Sebastien Dhouailly (Thierry Boutsen Racing).

The starting line-up includes only one German, Steve Abold (Roma Team Baumgartner). Winner of last year's Mini Challenge, the Lauingen drivers best result to date is tenth.

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