Ander Vilariño and Franck Lamanna fight off relentless challenge

Europe’s fastest growing sports car series again provided a nail biting finish yesterday at Spa-Francorchamps.  With just the two final bends of ‘the bus stop’ chicane to go and the finishing line in sight, the 90-minute Honda-powered SPEED EuroSeries race was up for grabs. Damien Toulemonde in the LD Autosport Norma had been relentlessly closing in on Franck Lamanna’s similar car. Franck kept his line as the more experienced Damien tried to go for the inside. His nerve held and Damien lost the momentum to take him past. “It was very hot for me,” said Franck as the two Frenchmen were separated by a mere 0.364 seconds at the flag.

Franck’s co-driver, former Spanish Formula Three and European Hillclimb champion, Ander Vilariño, took pole in qualifying and built up a commanding lead before handing over the car. Damien, who had taken over from fellow countryman Philippe Haezebrouck, gave pursuit but just failed in his attempt, the race showing just how exciting a formula can be that brings together professional and gentlemen amateur drivers. It was also an excellent demonstration of how the SPEED EuroSeries is now being perceived as the final step before the prototypes of the Intercontinental Le Mans Challenge, a round of which takes place today after the fourth race of the SPEED series.

The result means that it is also tight at the top of the drivers’ league table with the stars of rounds one and two at Paul Ricard, Team WFR’s Warren Hughes, Jody Firth, Joey Foster and Nigel Moore still one point in the lead despite having had to withdraw from the meeting. A spectacular accident during testing on Wednesday had left Joey with a fractured vertebra and caused the team to scratch its entry while it analysed the cause of the crash. Just one point behind them is now Ligier driver, Dean Stirling. With the WFRs missing from today’s 60-minute race, the lead is sure to change hands before the cars go to Donington Park on June 17-19.