as Georges, Lisandre and the Laroche brothers secure class titles
Britain’s Jon Packer celebrated a brace of victories at this weekend’s (8/9 October) final rounds of the2016 Lotus Cup Europe season, but could not prevent race two winner, France’s Xavier Georgesfrom taking the V6 Cup class title.
Packer’s Evora stormed into the lead in the opening race from surprise polesitter, Sweden’s TommieEliasson, and Georges, both in Exiges, who would eventually take second place. The Frenchman gothis revenge in the standing-start second encounter, whilst Packer fought to second, with the Exige ofDane Nikolaj Ipsen battling his way up the order to third.
The final race offered double points, but second for Georges behind Packer was enough to secure theV6 Cup title. Eliasson led the early running but had to settle for third place.
The 2-Eleven class championship came down to a straight fight between reigning category championJean-Baptiste Loup and Christophe Lisandre, both from France. Loup retired from the opener, andLisandre lost ground in the second race, but the former needed a point for fastest lap to stand achance of retaining his crown. Fifth in class secured Lisandre the title.
With Britain’s Harry Woodhead forced to withdraw from the meeting after practice, French Exigeracingbrothers Christopher and Franck Laroche were guaranteed the title. However they were forcedto start from the back after qualifying and they shared class wins with Dutchman Eric van’t Oever(Exige) and Swiss Sharon Scolari (Elise).
With the Overall 2016 title claimed by Production class runner Tamas Vizin from Hungary last monthat Zolder, the category saw three closely-contested races. Frenchman Thierry Hedoin, who had oftenfinished as class runner-up during the season, won all three but not without needing to fight. BritonJames Knight offered much resistance, as did Swede Sven Pettersson, whilst his compatriot DanielPalma and Britain’s Mark Yates also made podium appearances.
The final round of the Lotus Cup Europe season supported the 24 Heures Camions truck racing eventfor the second time, with a huge crowd enjoying the three races.
Lotus Cup Europe will return in spring 2017, with a full race calendar due to be released in the comingweeks.
