in triumphant season with five wins, three Pole Positions and a third place
Mikel Azcona (PCR Sport) wins the second race and is runner-up in the international series
Dutchman Niels Langeveld (Baporo Motorsport) placed his hands on the 2016 title of the SEAT Leon Eurocup at the Barcelona-Catalunya circuit in front of more than 12.000 fans that surrounded the Catalan layout. After obtaining his fifth victory in Saturday’s first chase, the Baporo Motorsport driver crossed the finish line in fifth position and was able to confirm his ownership of the latest edition of the popular and thrilling racing contest.
After an intense race where plentiful overtaking moves and heightened excitement were the principle factors, the Baporo Motorsport representative was able to control his advantage in the points over nearest challenger Stian Paulsen (Stian Paulsen Racing) who was forced out of the running after a first lap incident. Setting off from eighth position on the grid and with Paulsen removed from the equation, Langeveld just had to reach the flag to turn his dreams to reality. He arrived to the line in fifth while Mikel Azcona (PCR Sport) ran to a deserved victory and at the same time made sure of his status as runner-up for 2016. Behind the Spaniard was Frenchman Julien Briché (JSB Competition) and Portuguese Lourenço Beirao (PCR Sport), both second and third respectively.
Consistency was the base of Niels Langeveld’s season-long charge to be champion. As well as being the driver with the highest number of wins in the current edition of the SEAT Leon Eurocup – five in total – the Dutchman also posted a third position at the Nürburgring, and three Pole Positions in a row at Silverstone, Paul Ricard and Mugello. The results contributed to an unforgettable campaign and were achieved with a lot of effort and determination.After a conservative launch to the year at Estoril (Portugal), Langeveld then drove to three of four possible wins; two of those around Paul Ricard (France) and where he emerged as leader of the series. In the wake of the Portuguese fixture Langeveld and Stian Paulsen – his closest rival for most of the season – began a close and watchable duel even though the Baporo Motorsport representative remained in control from the Austrian round until his date with destiny at Barcelona-Catalunya.
Niels Langeveld (Baporo Motorsport), 2016 SEAT Leon Eurocup 2016: “I still cannot believe it! This was our objective and what we were fighting for the whole season and to win the SEAT Leon Eurocup, with the high level of the series, is a dream for me. This was my first season in a European competition and to take the title means a lot to me and all the people around me. It was a complicated race for us but we could keep consistent and in the end finished fifth. I want to give thanks to my team and my sponsors because without them none of this would have been possible.”
Mikel Azcona (PCR Sport), winner of race 2: “Today was very tricky. It was a really crazy race! I tried to set a good pace all the way through while also conserving tyres. Anyway, until the end I pushed as hard as I could and on the last lap I was able to make sure of the win. I’m really happy to end the season this way. I want to thank my people, my sponsors and my team.”
Julien Briché (JSB Competition), second in race 2: “To finish twice on the podium in the two races run here in Barcelona is a nice way to end the season. We have been fighting at the front with the best and that's really important for us. We have to continue with the same line of work that we have set so far. Overall we’re really satisfied.”
Lourenço Beirao (PCR Sport), third in race 2: “A nice way to end the season because in the last few races, things have not gone as we would have liked. So I’m really happy that I could get on the podium here in Barcelona and I would like to give thanks to the team for the great work they have done.”
Jaime Puig (Director of SEAT Sport): “It was a really intense race and until the last lap it was hard to know who would be on the podium and also the new winner of the SEAT Leon Eurocup. I want to congratulate Niels Langeveld who made a very solid season and this allowed him to be crowned as the new king of the SEAT Leon Eurocup. Overall it has been a fantastic season and the constant overtaking and positions changes created a lot of emotion and expectation among the fans and that's the best thing that we can hope for in an European series like ours.”
Race 2 classification
1. Mikel Azcona (#1), PCR Sport; 27’59.9812. Julien Briché (#3), JSB Competition; +0.3303. Lourenço Beirao Da Veiga (#20), PCR Sport; +3.4694. Munkong Sathienthirakul (#11), Monlau Competición; +3.5955. Niels Langeveld (#10), Baporo Motorsport; +3.9016. Lucas Orrock (#4), Wolf-Power Racing; +13.1907. Nicola Baldan (#108); Pit Lane Competizioni; +14.5608. Alessandro Sebasti Scalera (#7), Baporo Motorsport; +14.5729. Marco Pellegrini (#67), Dinamic Motorsport; +23.14510. Harriet Arruabarrena (#8), PCR Sport; +24.60411. Facundo Della Motta (#44), Baporo Motorsport; +28.44612. Ruben Martínez (#24), RC2 Junior Team; +31.94213. Alberto Vescovi (#112), Pit Lane Competizioni; +32.12814. Marie Baus-Coppens (#21), JSB Competition; +33.64115. Maurits Sandberg (#99), Baporo Motorsport; +37.41116. Alex Morgan (#5), Wolf-Power Racing; +39.14417. Carlotta Fedeli (#192), Pit Lane Competizioni; +40.91218. David Cebrián (#32), RC2 Junior Team; +1 vuelta
Non classifiedJacobo García (#12), PCR SportStian Paulsen (#34), Stian Paulsen RacingNelson Lukes (#50), Nelson Lukes
Race 1 classification
1. Niels Langeveld (#10), Baporo Motorsport; 27’58.5412. Stian Paulsen (#34), Stian Paulsen Racing; +4.1483. Julien Briché (#3), JSB Competition; +5.0444. Mikel Azcona (#1), PCR Sport; +7.4775. Alex Morgan (#5), Wolf-Power Racing; +9.1576. David Cebrián (#32), RC2 Junior Team; +9.9228. Lucas Orrock (#4), Wolf-Power Racing; +15.2569. Facundo Della Motta (#44), Baporo Motorsport; +15.68224. Alberto Vescovi (#112), Pit Lane Competizioni; +17.13610. Alessandro Sebasti Scalera (#7), Baporo Motorsport; +21.20111. Maurits Sandberg (#99), Baporo Motorsport; +35.84812. Munkong Sathienthirakul (#11), Monlau Competición; +38.39013. Jacobo García (#12), PCR Sport; +38.99014. Ruben Martínez (#24), RC2 Junior Team; +42.45715. Marie Baus-Coppens (#21), JSB Competition; +43.40916. Carlotta Fedeli (#192), Pit Lane Competizioni; +58.19017. Harriet Arruabarrena (#8), PCR Sport; +1’09.98718. Nicola Baldan (#108); Pit Lane Competizioni; +2 laps19. Lourenço Beirao Da Veiga (#20), PCR Sport; +2 laps
Non classified
Nelson Lukes (#50), Nelson LukesMarco Pellegrini (#67), Dinamic Motorsport
Clasificación SEAT León Eurocup 2016:
1. Niels Langeveld (#10), Baporo Motorsport; 240 points2. Mikel Azcona (#1), PCR Sport; 226 points3. Stian Paulsen (#34), Stian Paulsen Racing; 210 points4. Alex Morgan (#5), Wolf-Power Racing; 165 points5. Julien Briché (#3), JSB Competition; 151 points6. Lourenço Beirao Da Veiga (#20), PCR Sport; 97 points7. Lucas Orrock (#4), Wolf-Power Racing; 75 points8. Facundo Della Motta (#44), Baporo Motorsport; 63 points9. Lucile Cypriano (#9), JSB Competition; 61 points10. Mario Dablander (#61), SEAT Austria; 34 points11. Alessandro Sebasti Scalera (#7), Baporo Motorsport; 30 points12. Nicola Baldan (#108); Pit Lane Competizioni; 29 points13. Nelson Lukes (#50), Nelson Lukes; 23 points14. Munkong Sathienthirakul (#11), Monlau Competición; 19 points15. Mauricio Hernandez (#17), PCR Sport; 17 points16. Faustí Salom (#6), Baporo Motorsport; 14 points17. Maurits Sandberg (#99), Baporo Motorsport; 13 points18. Jonathan Giacon (#101); Jonathan Giacon; 11 points19. Marie Baus-Coppens (#21), JSB Competition; 8 points20. Stan Van Oord (#77), Baporo Motorsport; 8 points21. David Cebrián (#32), RC2 Junior Team; 8 points22. Pol Rosell (#13), Baporo Motorsport; 7 points23. Alberto Vescovi (#112), Pit Lane Competizioni; 3 points24. Marco Pellegrini (#67), Dinamic Motorsport; 2 points25. Amalia Vinyes (#13), Baporo Motorsport; 1 point26. Jimmy Antunes (#2), JSB Competition; 1 point27. Harriet Arruabarrena (#8), PCR Sport; 1 point
