While Dimitri Enjalbert (Team Lompech Sport) was hard to handle in the first session, Stefano Comini (Oregon Team) and Bas Schothorst (TDS Racing) took over in the second session of collective testing today.
The Swiss driver ended the day ahead of Bas Schothorst, Dimitri Enjalbert, Niccolo Nalio (Oregon Team) and David Dermont (TDS Racing), first of the Gentlemen Drivers. The Eurocup Mégane Trophy got the season off to a start with two one-hour joint practice sessions. Dimitri Enjalbert, winner of thirteen races in Eurocup Mégane Trophy, in the end took over from Boris Bouvier in Team Lompech Sport. Runner-up in Eurocup Mégane Trophy in 2007, third in 2008 and 2009 and fifth in 2010, Dimitri Enjalbert was on the pace from the off.
The French driver took control of the session from his first flying lap in 2'04''898. He proceeded to restake his claim to the leadership of this fist session with a time of 2'04''313. Behind him, a pecking order emerged after the first few minutes. Stefano Comini (Oregon Team) got himself in second place, ahead of Bas Schothorst (TDS Racing) and Fabien Thuner (Boutsen Energy Racing).
The latter was ousted from fourth at the end of the session by teammate Michele Faccin, new to this discipline, but totally on the pace. Bas Schothorst, determined to do justice to his status of favourite, hit back early in the second session. The Dutch driver grabbed first place, then went quicker several times. In 2'04''471, he established a solid position, though still short of the best lap time set by Dimitri Enjalbert in the morning.
Behind him, Stefano Comini moved up into second, ahead of Dimitri Enjalbert. Niccolo Nalio (Oregon Team) was the first to shake up the hierarchy. With a lap time of 2'04''217, the Italian driver set the provisional best time of the day. That marked the beginning of the final show-down, with his teammate hitting back first.
With a time of 2'03''760, Stefano Comini took over at the top of the timing screens. Dimitri Enjalbert moved into second, between the two Oregon Team cars. Bas Schothorst, after sorting out a minor technical problem, set out on new tires determined to have the last say. But the Dutchman had to settle for second place, 44 thousandths off Stefano Comini.
Reaction:
Stefano Comini: "This morning we continued our testing program, without really looking at the clock. We waited for the end of the session to fit new tires and then I was really happy with the handling of my car. The season will be interesting because all the favourites are very close."
Bas Schothorst: "We have really made progress with the set-up of our car. I didn't take full advantage of my fresh tires; I can do better tomorrow I think. We all know each other really well, we know each others' level. So to win, you've got to be 100% full on and you can trust me on that!"
Dimitri Enjalbert: "Switching from a GT3 to Megane Trophy takes a bit of adjusting to at first. The power is not the same and feel in braking is different. I'm here to help Team Lompech Sport and show their car's potential. It's a weekend without any pressure for me, just to enable the team to progress. I wasn't far off winning here two years ago, when I had a fuel problem. I would love to take my revenge this year
