Eurocup Mégane Trophy - 2009 season
New Mégane Trophy is the major innovation for the 2209 World Series by Renault, the public and the media taking to it when it was launched at the Paris Motor Show. The teams and drivers have also fallen in love: 21 participants have already been pre-selected by the World Series by Renault Organizing Committee.
When New Mégane Trophy takes to the track it will be a key moment in the 2009 season. The countdown has begun and the first phase is complete, with the new cars and new kits delivered to the four corners of Europe. The teams are getting to grips with their cars and await the first Eurocup Mégane Trophy collective test sessions scheduled for the end of March in Barcelona.
The World Series by Renault Organizing Committee has pre-selected 21 competitors to create a field which combines quality with quantity. Tech 1 Racing, winner of the Teams championship since 2006 will be entering three cars driven by Antony Tardieu, Matthieu Cheruy and Nick Catsburg. Their goal will be to bring home a fourth consecutive crown, while once again going after the Drivers title claimed by TDS Racing and Michaël Rossi last season.
After a glittering 2008 season, the hopes of TDS Racing are still high for 2009. As well as defending the Drivers and Gentlemen Drivers titles won last season, Xavier Combet's men dream of being the first for three years to overthrow Tech 1 Racing in the Teams championship. This season, TDS is relying on Jonathan Hirschi, Jean-Phillippe Madonia, who defends his Gentlemen Drivers title, and Pierre Thiriet.
The motivation of the Boutsen Energy team, in the running for the title last season, remains intact with Dimitri Enjalbert and David Dermont, two drivers who experienced the joys of victory in 2008.
A return to his roots for Fabrice Walfisch, as the Frenchman rejoins Team Lompech Sport for whom he drove in 2007. Walfisch will be teaming up with Jean Charles Miginiac and Bernard Delhez.
Holland will be strongly represented with Equipe Verschuur. Frans Verschuur will be running no fewer than six Méganes, spread across three teams. Bernhard Ten Brinke and Wim Beelen will defend the Equipe Verschuur colours. Always exciting on the track, they will be two drivers to look out for. Hoevert Vos and Harrie Kolen will join the fight in the Gentlemen Drivers category for the Vershuur Autosport team. Finally, the McGregor by Equipe Verschuur drivers Jeroen Schothorst and Mike Verschuur will have the Teams and Drivers titles in their sights as they make a return to the category.
Italy will be represented by the Oregon Team and Brixia Autosport team, who are putting their faith in Angelo Baiguera. The line-up is completed by the Spanish driver Rafael Unzurruzaga (Blue Jumeirah Team).
The first collective test sessions will be held in Barcelona on March 26-27. Soon afterwards, the competitors will move on to the Paul Ricard HTTT circuit on April 1-2, while the season begins in earnest at Barcelona on April 18-19.
