5 TOP FRENCH DRIVERS IN FIGHT FOR A VICTORY - JOUANNY, GOMMENDY, PLA, RAVIER, ANDRE
The next meeting of the World Series by Nissan is at the Nevers Magny-Cours Circuit, France on the 22nd and 23rd of May and 5 French drivers will be fighting for the win - specially the Saulnier Racing team, whose factory is only 200 meters away from the main entrance to the Circuit!
This year is going to be the first where all three categories will be at the same circuit or meeting - the World Series by Nissan, the World Series Light and Spanish Championship of Formula Junior 1600.
Following Frank Montagny's example, young French drivers see the Magny-Cours circuit as a perfect platform to start thinking about the top rung og the ladder, Formula 1, this makes their adrenaline pump up to maximum levels giving them an extra power and a great willingness to work at full concen. The Saulnier Racing driver is racing at home since their headquarters are 200 meters away form the circuit. Tristan Gommendy, one of the most effective debutants this year, is quite confident:
“Magny Cours is France and I have been racing on this circuit several times, I’ll race for the win”.
“If everything goes well, we hope to win at Magny-Cours”, says Serge Saulnier.
The Belgian team KTR has also 2 French drivers, Didier André in his second season at the WSbN, and Bruce Jouanny. According to D. André: “Magny Cours is the third meeting of the year in the World Series by Nissan. After the good vibrations in Jarama, I was not very quick in Zolder and we are working very hard to get a competitive car for Magny Cours.” Bruce Jouanny is more self confident, as he says: “Last year I achieved one pole, but I was quite unlucky for the second qualifying. I'm happy with the test in Magny Cours, and the weather was good. This is my second year and I hope that I will get a lot of points.”
The other teams that count with French drivers are Epsilon Euskadi with Jean Christophe Ravier and R.C. Motorsport with Olivier Pla.
J.C. Ravier had a great race at Zolder and does not want to get caught up in the classification by anyone; “The test was quite good in Magny Cours. We have opened our new technical facilities in Azkoitia (Guipúzcoa) and I'm very impressed. It is wonderful. I'm quite constant as a driver and I hope that I will give a lot of satisfactions to the team”.
According to Olivier Pla, this moment is excellent because “For me it is very important to participate in this Championship because the World Series by Nissan is the closest Series to F-1. Their drivers are very competitive and experienced, coming from F-1, and for me it has been quite difficult because I didn't have many opportunities for testing before I arrive”.
KOSTA TO RACE IN MAGNY COURS
Tomas Kostka (27-08-84) will race in Magny Cours with the RC Motorsport Team. This is the first time that a driver from the Chez Republic has entered the series.
Top World Series by Nissan team, Carlin Motorsport, has confirmed that Keohane’s place may be in doubt as the racer signed a one-race deal. Carlin is already in talks with some drivers.
The World Series Light has 3 French drivers at Magny cours, Simon Abadie, Bastien Brière and Mathieu Lahaye, and two French teams: Epsilon by Graff and Saulnier Racing. The rivalry shown during past races has been the cause for drivers to be able to give an amazing show on the Magny-Cours’ asphalt. Milos Pavlovic is still a strong leader in the 250 Hp category.
The third category, the Spanish Formula Junior Championship is having its single international meeting, with Marco Antonio Barba on top of the provisional classification.
