Blancpain Endurance Series

Monza  13- 15 April

Promising practices

We thought that Italy meant heat and sun. Well… not really !

Big, grey and dark clouds were waiting for us.

The first free testings started on Friday midday. Our drivers achieved a lot of laps, and discovered the car on the Italian circuit and… the huge on-track traffic. 56 cars shared the circuit and the pit-lane. It’s like a Monday morning traffic jam.

First satisfaction during those free testings : our #5 car was classified 8^th overall and 1^st McLaren.

During the qualifying session on Saturday, and despite brakes problem, the car confirms its pace, by setting the 14^th overall chrono and always first McLaren on track. A good performance from our drivers Edouard Mondron, Jack Clarke and Nico Verdonck.

On Sunday, race day, it is heavy rain, with a completely wet track.

The race is started behind the safety car, all preceding sessions were dry.

Because of those tremendous weather conditions, the safety car stayed for 10 laps on the track, leading the race cars. And even during this low pace, several cars spun on the circuit and some already came back to the pits.

The “real” start is finally given and our car, driven by Jack Clarke, could not avoid aquaplaning and hit the security fence. This is the end of this first endurance race.

Next Blancpain Endurance Series meeting will take place at Silverstone, on June 3^rd.

The team’s next event is the World Endurance Championship race at Spa-Francorchamps, with the LMP2, on Saturday 5^th May.

Sunday 15th of April

McLaren Brussels - press release

The Belgian team Ginion Boutsen Racing, based in Wavre, is ready for the first race of the season of the Blancpain Endurance Series. Driving the McLaren MP4-12C GT3 is a very promising trio: Edward Mondron, Nico Verdonck and Jack Clarke.

After some positive tests and race simulations at the circuit of Le Castellet, in southern France, and in Zolder, Ginion Boutsen Racing seems to be on the pace to compete this weekend the first meeting of the Blancpain 2012 championship being held in Monza. The two Belgian pilots, Edward Mondron and Nico Verdonck, and the Englishman Jack Clarke will share the wheel of the McLaren MP4-12C GT3, the only GT3 that is supplied with a road-car carbon chassis.

Comments from the team :

Olivier Lainé, Team Manager Boutsen Ginion Racing :

Motorsport is a job of constant challenges and McLaren is part of this new challenge. We have a lot going on our side with our trio of drivers: Jack Clarke, Edward Mondron and Nico Verdonck, but also a lot of work to achieve the high expectations of this season.

Thierry Boutsen, Co-owner Boutsen Ginion Racing :

Being in Dubai for my business, I can unfortunately not be present in Monza for the first laps of the McLaren on the track, but I trust Olivier and I will follow the results with great attention. I wish the team, drivers and mechanics plenty of success in this new adventure.

Nico Verdonck, Driver Boutsen Ginion Racing :

The 2012 championship represents a new challenge for the team with new drivers and a new car.  Despite the short preparation period, I have great confidence in the team and the McLaren GT3.

Edouard Mondron, Driver Boutsen Ginion Racing :

The Blancpain Endurance Series Championship 2012 is a new experience and a great challenge. I was very well received in the team and the atmosphere is very good. The mechanics are super-competent and the car has great potential. I try to understand the car as fast as possible and I cross my fingers for Monza.

Jack Clarke, Driver Boutsen Ginion Racing :

The three pilots have communicated a lot during and after the last tests and we developed the car, which is really capable of running in front, a lot. With 55 participants there will be a lot of traffic on the circuit. It is therefore important to get a perfect lap during qualifying. We will still have time on Friday to tweak the settings, which should allow us to be ready for Sunday.

About the Team Boutsen Ginion Racing

The Team Thierry Boutsen exists since more than fifteen years. Last year, the Team Boutsen Ginion was created. It is the result of a partnership between Boutsen and the group Ginion. The team is based in Wavre and participates this year for the first time in the Blancpain Endurance championship with the McLaren MP4-12C GT3.

www.boutsenginion.com

About McLaren Brussels

McLaren Brussels represents McLaren in Belgium, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the Netherlands, and is part of the Belgian Ginion Group. This group targets sales of premium, luxury and exceptional cars and guarantees a high quality service. Besides McLaren, Ginion Group also distributes BMW, MINI, Volvo, Ferrari and Maserati in the Brussels region, and it is also the importer of Rolls-Royce in Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

www.mclarenbrussels.com

www.facebook.com/GinionGroup.McLaren

1st of April 2012

2 cars were registered by our team for the first race of the season.

The LMP2, number 45, with Jack Clarke, Bastien Brière and Sebastien Buemi as drivers,

and the FLM, number 40, with Massimo Vignali, Jean-Marc Merlin and Thomas Dagoneau.

Practice sessions :

Saturday morning, we were all ready to start the new season and welcome our new drivers. Jack Clarke started the session in LMP2 and achieved excellent laptimes.But these good vibes were short lived, as during the first free practices, the LMP2 became motionless at the edge of the circuit. Following a break in the exhaust, the carbon chassis caught fire. The LMP2 45 was not going to be repaired for the second free practice session, nor for the qualifying session.  But it should start from the back of the grid, on Sunday.

FLM, 10th general ranking, but pole position in its class

At the wheel of the Formula Le Mans, Massimo Vignali, Thomas Dagoneau and Jean-Marc Merlin posted a serie of laps, and times have improved over their rotations. It is Massimo Vignali who realized the best qualifying time to start in pole position for the race.

A small consolation for the team !

Sunday morning : warm-up

After a day and a full night's work for the mechanics, to rebuild the whole left rear train of the car, the LMP2 was ready for the warm-up. Ex F1-driver, Sebastien Buemi opening the ball, followed by Bastien Brière who chain and downed the times.

We thought everything was now in order.

Sunday : race

All the cars are now on the grid, for the formation lap.The FLM 40 starts and follow the pack, while the LMP2 couldn't start .. ! due to an unreponsive dashboard !

The FLM 40, started well the race, although the LMP2 is back in the stand to remove the dashboard. And finally could start the race. At the wheel, Bastien Brière. The first laps are promising. But after one hour of racing, the car stopped at the edge of the cicruit. Again because of an electronic problem of the dashboard.

Massimo Vignali performed a double stint beofre giving the wheel to Thomas Dagoneau. Who had to return to the pits, for an unplanned tire change. he then passes the wheel to Jean-Marc Merlin, which succeed to realize very good laptimes, and even the fastest lap of the car before being victim of the rupture of a pressure valve. This forced the crew to abandon after 3/4 of the race.

Next ELMS race was scheduled end of May at Zolder, but this race has been cancelled by the organisation, as not enought participants have registered. Instead of Zolder, we will take part to the World Endurace Race, at Spa, for the 1000 kms race, on 5th of May. Jack Clarke and Bastien Brière will be our LMP2 drivers, one seat still available.

In the meantime, first Blancpain Endurance Series race at Monza, on 14 and 15 of April, already next week-end.

Our drivers, Jack Clarke, Edouard Mondron and Nico Verdonck will discover the McLaren in race !!!

We come back soon.

First round of the Le Mans Series championship.

The LMP2 could not finish the free practices, because of a broken exhaust and a fire. The LMP2 will have to start  from the back of the grid.

Best position for the FLM, Massimo Vignali  will starts in pole position !!!

1st  meeting of the season :!

The team will have its first race at Le Castellet, on 31th of March and 1st of April. On the LMP2, Sebastien Buemi, F1 driver in 2011, joins Jack Clarke and Bastien Brière.

Thomas Dagoneau, Jean-Marc Merlin and Massimo Vignali will share the steering wheel of the Formula Le Mans.

Collective tests and qualifying session are planned for Saturday.

The 1000 kms race will start at 12 am, on Sunday.

This is it : the start of the season of the Blancpain Endurance Series, ..

2 officiel test days are planned for 20 + 21 March at le Castellet. First race will be at Monza, on 15th of April.

2 days of intensive work for our McLaren drivers, Edouard Mondron, Jack Clarke, and Nico Verdonck.

Last Thursday, our team has been at Zolder for a few laps. A very promising trio has driven the McLaren : Edouard Mondron, Jack Clarke and Nico Verdonck.

A great discovery for the 3 drivers, who will be at Le Castellet tomorrow, Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 of March, for the Official Testing sessions of the Blancpain Endurance Series.  Things are now getting serious. We can't wait to see them at the wheel of the new car.

2nd day work for our team at le Castellet.

Our team finishes the day at the 3rd position.

The first Le Mans Series race is planned for the 1st of April, we will participate with the LMP2 and FLM.

Morning :

LMP2 : 5th - 1.48.94

FLM :   8th -  1.57.61

Afternoon :

LMP2 : 3rd - 1.48.49

FLM :   6th -  1.56.51

Bastien Brière - LMP2 driver : "Our objective was to discover the car and the team. We have worked together well, and i have had a lot of fun. We well improved during the 2 days, and I look forward for the 1st race. We still have to work before it.. !"

Thomas Dagoneau - FLM driver: "I am happy after this 2 test days, I feel good in the car, but I still need to drive a lot to improve my laptimes - See you soon". 

Brendon Hartley : LMP2 test : "I really enjoyed my first taste of LMP2. felt good in the car straight away and enjoyed working with the team. Was quite surprised by the amount of downforce, very enjoyable to drive".

Massimo Bottiglieri (Engineer) : "I am delighted with the potential of our two new drivers ! Jack and Bastien improved massively quick on the LMP2 which they both discovered which gives me a good feeling for the coming season. It was also a pleasure to test with talents like Brendon Hartley and Sebastien Buemi. They both discovered the pleasures of an LMP2 and the difficulty of managing traffic with our car. This proved once again that our team is gaining strenght and recognition..".

Jack Clarke :  "The test was a huge learning curve for me! Although the car took a while for me to get used to, I feel I had the pace to challenge the ELMS front runners this year. I enjoyed working with the team and I am confident that myself and Bastien will be a strong force

Jezus Diez Villarroel : It has been a pleasure working with the team during the tests at Le Castellet. I receive a very professionnal treatment, and I hope to be part of the team in 2012".

The new look of the LMP2, with the shark-wing..

Sebastien Buemi, the swiss F1 driver is testing for us, our LMP2, with the english driver Jack Clarke, and Bastien Briere, from Le Mans.

The new look of the LMP2, the deco of the car follows ..

Olivier Lainé, team manager, will also test with a Formula Le Mans.  The drivers are the french, Thomas Dagoneau, the Italian, Massimo Vignali, the french, Jean-Marc Merlin and the spanish Jezus Villaroel. 

The test version of the Formula Le Mans

After the first day, we had the following positions, the drivers improving their time in the afternoon.

LMP2 :

morning : 3rd -  1.49.155

afternoon : 4th-  1.48.305

FLM :

morning  : 11th -  2.03.55

afternoon : 7th -  1.57.70

Test session is also foreseen for the FR 3.5 driver, Brendon Hartley. on the LMP2.

European Le Mans Series .. First practice sessions at Le Castellet this week-end

Sebastien Buemi (F1 Torro Rosso) will test our LMP2 car, during the official tests of the ELMS championship, at Le Castellet this week-end.

The 2 other drivers, will be Bastien Brière (ELMS + 24 Hours of Le Mans) and Jack Clarke, the newcomer in our team, who will participate to the full ELMS season with us, and the Blancpain Endurance Series, on the McLaren.

If the tests goes well, Sebastien Buemi will participate to the WEC race at Spa, (1000 kms).We are still looking for a silver driver, for the WEC race at Spa, 5th of May, 2012.

We will also have a FORMULA LE MANS, for the test days at Le Castellet driven by Thomas Dagoneau, (for the test and season) and Massimo Vignali,

for the test. Massimo is also planning to participate to the Castellet race, first round of the championship.

Renamed "Boutsen Ginion Racing", to reflect our partnership with Group Ginion, our team is eager to start and live an exciting 2012 year, with our double Endurance program crowned by the Le Mans 24 Hours and 24 Hours of Spa.

The seats are filling in up with our new drivers and the test program starts in a couple of days.

In ELMS, European Le Mans Series, LMP2 Category, we have the pleasure to welcome Bastien Brière, who is from Le Mans city. Bastien will also take part at the Le Mans 24 Hours.

He will share the steering wheel with Jack Clarke.

The British driver, with strong motorsport roots (his father-in-lax, former F1-driver, Julian Bailey, advices him for his carreer) spent 3 years  in FIA Formula 2 championship (8th,  1 win, 2 podiums in 2011, 3 podiums in 2010, ..) He decided to turn to endurance racing with a double and ambitious program : LMP2 and McLaren MP4-12C GT3 in the Blancpain Endurance Series.

There is one seat left on our LMP2 in the ELMS.

On the Blancpain side, the line-ups are not yet finalized. We will inform you shortly.

Olivier Lainé (Team Manager) : We already wish Bastien and Jack a great year with us. Welcome in the team ! We now have to find the 3rd driver to complete the line-up !

Jack Clarke :"I am over the moon to have signed with Boutsen Ginion Racing ! I know they have the tools to deliver a winning race packate and I aim to contribute to that. We will certainly be aiming to win races and score plenty of podiums. I am also confident that we can achieve these race goals consistently, which would certainly leave us in the running for the championship ! As a driver, I am divers and I have a lot of new and exciting challenges ahead. I am especially looking forward to proving myself in a new motor racing environment !

Bastien Brière : "I look forward to the next races, and the new challenges for 2012". 

The "Automobile Club de l'Ouest", (ACO) has just released the official list of 56 teams selected to participate to the 80th edition of the Le Mans 24 Hours.

It is not enough to register, you also need to be selected to participate to this famous race of 24 Hours !
 

And it's a huge event for our team "Ginion Boutsen Racing", to race at Le Mans on 16 and 17 June 2012.
 

At the wheel of our LMP2, a crew 100% coming for the region of Le Mans, la Sarthe :  Bastien Brière will be our first driver, the two other drivers are still to be confirmed.

Possible tailored arrangements, following your requests

Happy New Year 2012 !

Next season is already coming and we will concentrate on our different programs.

Our objectives  for 2012 :

- The “Endurance” with our LMP2, team of drivers is still to complete.

- And, good news, we will back in the GT championship with 2 McLaren MP4 12C, in partnership with the Group Ginion. A huge challenge for us..

A new name and logo for our team, to discover in the coming weeks.

A notice to graphic designers, we are launching the logo contest : if you have ideas, please send them to us! (Additional information to be requested by mail).

The program of the future season: races in Europe, but also in Belgium .. including the famous 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. Already a program. We still have to finalize the drivers teams.

Big challenges ahead for 2012  .. : The test sessions will start soon, everyone on the track !

And then, last news, we have for sale one of our Megane Trophy, ready to roll, if you are interested or if you know someone looking for, feel free to circulate.

We have 1 of our Megane for sale. 

Eurocup Megane Trophy Championship.

Specifications 2011.

Contact and infos : contact@boutsenenergy.com or by phone +32 10 24 49 84.

Last race of the ILMC championship won by the 2 Peugeot, Audi finished in 3rd position.

The Formula Le Mans driven by the 2 chineses drivers, Shanqi and Chen,  and whose maintenance was provided by our team, finished 17th, (general ranking), and 1st FLM (but only 1 FLM in the category).

A good experience for our team to participate into a ILMC event (Intercontinental Le Mans Cup).

Last round of the ILMC Championship, the 6 Hours of Zhuhai race (China) will be run on Sunday.

Olivier Lainé and the LMS team, in partnership with Oreca, will ensure the maintenance of the Formula Le Mans, during the last round of the ILMC Championship.

To follow : the number 90.

Supercopa Seat - the final of the Championship at Le Castellet  

Race 1 : win for Johan-Boris Scheier !

Started on pole position, Jobo realizes the good operation by winning the first race of the week-end.
Igor Tananov is forced to retire for mechanical problem.

Race 2 :  8th position for Igor Tananov, his best result of the season  !

2 rounds to play for the 2nd race of the week-end.

Round 1 : this time, it is Jobo Scheier who is unable to complete due to a recalcitrant fuel pump. Igor finished 16th. 

Round 2 : The last start of the season for the young russian driver and his best result since he finished 8th. A very nice result when starting from the back of the grid.  Continuous improvement for Igor throughout the season. 

Free practices on Friday :

Johan-Boris Scheier is 4th and Igor Tananov 16th.

Qualif and super-pole : Jobo in pole position !

Jobo realizes the 8th time in the qualifying session, this permits him to participate to the super-pole.

And gets the pole position for the race !!!

Igor Tananov is 16th.

Race 1 is planned for tomorrow, Saturday.

Igor Tananov and Johan-Boris Scheier will be our drivers, on Saturday and Sunday, to participate to the finale of the Supercopa Seat championship.

Friday : free practices and qualifying sessions.

Saturday : Race 1

Sunday : Race 1, round 1 and round 2.

The results will follow.

Saturday :

A podium to finish well the Megane season !

Qualified in 3rd position, our italian driver, Michele Faccin, ends just behind the 2 leaders, and mounts on the 3rd step of the podium, for the second time this season.

Fabien Thuner, starts from the 11th position. After a "flat" early in the race, (which has destabilized his car throughout the race), the swiss driver is ranked 16h.

Jochen Habets only completed 1 single lap during the qualifying session, due to mechanical problmes. He starts from the 19th position but is already 14th after the first lap. He finishes 6th.

Michele Faccin : « My first season hasn't been easy so I am happy with my podium,, and to have something back for all my work. Another performance like this would be a perfect way to set up for 2012 » 


Sunday :

Less result for the second round, spin for Michele Faccin and Fabien Thuner, they finish 9 & 10.

A good result for Jochen Habets, he started from the last position on the grid, and finished 5th. As the winner has been disqualified, ..Jochen got the 4th position.

To finish, the classification of the team, also on the podium this season, what closes the Eurocup Megane Trophy.

We look forward to start the championship 2012 !

The qualifying session is for this morning, the first race for this afternoon.

The finale of the championship will be held this week-end at Barcelone.

Our 3 drivers : Fabien Thuner, Michele Faccin & Jochen Habets.

The programme of the week-end : 

- Friday : 2 free practices sessions

- Saturday : qualifying session in the morning, Race 1 in the afternoo

- Sunday : the 2nd race.

Infos will follow, of course. 

Warm-up and finale of the championship are our planning for the day.

Best lap for our driver Thor-Christian Ebbesvik during the warm-up, in the LMP2 category. 4th in general ranking.

Rolling start at 1pm in Portugal, 2 pm for us.

A big disappointment on arrival when all started so well.

By the second hour of the race, thanks to a quicker pit-stop, Dominik Kraihamer remained at the wheel of our car, for a double stint, and took the advantage over the other competitors of the LMP2  category.

After 3 hours, Thor-Christian Ebbesvik took over from Dominik, and has a solid lead.

After 5 hours, we are still leading the category, and are in the 3rd position, general ranking.

But after 5 hours and 59 minutes, it is the cold shower, the abandonment of our car on the last lap !

Massimo Bottiglieri (Engineer) : "During the whole weekend, we’ve worked on a car that had to be on top of the timing sheets at the end of the race. We did everything that was in our reach to finish first, having setup and strategy choices that would focus on the speed of the car on the long distance and not on a single lap. The team also worked very hard all weekend to avoid any technical problem . Dominik and Thor-Christian did a fantastic job and drove without taking any risk at all at a pace which was way below their abilities and the car’s potential. That pace was imposed since we were already leading the race after 1h40 minutes and that our calculation showed that there was very little chance to see anyone else leading this race… All these choices and hard work did pay off until the last minute of a 6 hour during race where a completely unexpected, and out of our control, exhaust failure burnt the back of our car (including the brake line!) and all our victory hopes…

“What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger”, thus see you next season for the championship title!"

3rd free pratices session and Qualifying session are planned for today.

Dominik Kraihamer : "Qualif was OK. Christian drove and put the car in 4th position. We will fight for the Vice-Champion title as hard as possible".

Sunday 25 september : the finale of the championship.

Already the last race of the championship Le Mans Series, we haven't won yet, but well been on the podum. Sunday, the last race of 1000 kms will be held, we can still fight for the Vice-Champion title, not bad for a first year !

Free practices today

Sunday 18 september : after the sun, the clouds  ..

Indeed, we now have rain at Le Castellet. The track is wet and all the Megane, except 2, go on rain tires. And Fabien Thuner is hit in the first lap, by a Megane on slicks ! He can only finish the race in 11th position. Jochen Habets can't avoid to spin round, and finished 15th.

Difficult strategy during our pitstop as we decided to change the tires, as the track is now dry; Michele Faccin, finished 6th.

Podium for Fabien Thuner, 3rd, in Race 1

Good qualifying session for Michele Faccin, 3rd, to start the race 2.

Free practices : Friday 

Qualif : Saturday :

Race 1 :

Great race for our 3 drivers, Fabien Thuner up on 3rd on the podium !

Michele Faccin, spun in the first laps; he is in 17th position. He left the knif in the teeth and makes a great recovery to end 5th.

Less luck for Jochen Habets, long time 5th, who must give up 3 laps before the end, following an accident with another competitor.

Fabien Thuner : "I haven't been on the podium since Spa so it has been a while. It was a bit of a free-for-all out there and I was struggling at the start of the race because we're not that great on fresh tyres, and go better on older ones".

Tomorrow, Sunday, the Race 2..

Best lap in the LMP2 Category !

Another exciting race from the first to the last lap!

Christian Ebbesvik, our "new" driver starts the race with the LMP2 avoiding the pitfalls of the hectic start. Qualified in sixth position in the category LMP2, following a timed session disrupted by rain, the car is pointed in the seventh position after 1 lap.

Dominik Kraihamer and Christian Ebbesvik will whip to reach back to second place. They even reduce the gap on the leader and take over the control in the LMP2 class at the halfway of the race.  Our team keeps going until the fourth hour of the race. Following their excellent stints, Dominik and Christian will get 1min48 ahead of their nearest rival. But early in the fifth hour, we have to do a battery change, losing some time in the pits. We go back in the race at the fifth position.  Our 2 drivers,  attacking on each of their laps succeed to finish at the 3rd step of the podium ...

Dominik Kraihamer: "We had almost a lap ahead, we could clearly win here at Silverstone. But that's racing. We learn constantly. The team did a great job. The car was very good today. Even at the end of my relay, I could sign fast times. There are good and positive points, but now I want to win ".

Christian Ebbesvik : "The weekend has been great, i felt like home in the team straight away. Only thing that could stop us from winning was the technical problems, but still managed to keep 3rd place. Dominic has been a perfect team mate, really quick and did no mistakes. So i am really looking forward to Estoril, where i hope the hole team gets the result we deserve".

Drivers points table : 2. Kraihamer Dominik, 12. Christian Ebbesvik (1 race)

Team Standings: 2nd postion. The title will be played at Estoril in 15 days.

The 4th round of the Le Mans Series Championship will be held at Silverstone, on 10 & 11 of Septembre.

For personal reasons, Nicolas De Crem will no more participate to the Le Mans Series Championship, and will be replaced by the young norwegian driver, Thor-Christian Ebbesvik, for who, it will be the first experience with our team. Christian is 27 years old, and has already a very nice experience in racing (Formula Ford, Spanish F3, FLM, LMP2..). He started in Formula Le Mans in 2009, and drove in category LMP2 in 2010.

He will share the wheel with our austrian driver, Dominik Kraihamer.

We look forward to work with him and welcome him in our team.

Christian Ebbesvik  : "I am delighted to be back in LMP2 and driving with Boutsen Energy Racing. I know they are a good team and I am sure we can have some great results together sharing the Oreca-Nissan with Dominik Kraihamer".

Olivier Lainé (Team Manager) : "We are disappointed for Nicolas, as we have not yet obtained a victory in the LMP2 class.. But now we concentrate on the rest of the season and we will do everything to achieve our objective, we still have 2 races to go, and 2 very good drivers".

Dominik Kraihamer : "I am sad that Nicolas De Crem can't continue to drive in our team. He is a very nice driver, with a lot of talent. In the same time, I am happy to drive with Thor-Christian, who has experience.  I hope he will help and share his experience .. I am sure we will realize good races at Silverstone and Estoril".

Qualif & races :

Average score at Albi for the Supercopa Seat Championship while the week-end started well for our Russian driver, Igor Tananov, as he was 6th in the free practices.

Unfortunately, overrun in Race 1, he was forced to retire. Too bad because he had made a good start and pointed in 10th position. The next day, Igor coud not take the start of the 2nd race, as his cas was too damaged.

Johan-Boris Scheier, qualified 9th and finished 6th in the first race. The position of the 6 first being reversed for the round 1 of the second race, JoBo started in pole position ! Surprised at the start, he retrogrades in 3rd and then in 4th position. Round 2 : he started 4th and finished 4th.

Next meeting Supercopa Seat and last round of the Championship at Le Castellet, France : 

29 & 30 October 2011.

Free practices

Two free practices sessions at the agenda of the day for Igor Tananov, the russian driver and for Johan-Boris Scheier, the french driver.

An impressive progress for Igor during the second session. To be confirmed during the week-end !

Fabien starts from 4th position, Michele Faccin, 6th, and Jochen Habets starts 9th. 

Again a very nice race for our 3 drivers, who realizes very good lap-times.

Fabien is 4th, but Michele Faccin, quicker for his pit-stop will take his 4th position.

Finally, it is on the track, tha Fabien got his position.

He is just one step of the podium (4th), Michele finishes in 5th position, and Jochen Habets, in runaway, looses some seconds...He could have finish 7th but will be 9th.

Again this time, the 3 drivers finish the race in the points. 

Drivers ranking :

5. Fabien Thuner

7. Michele Faccin

10. Jochen Habets

Team ranking : 3rd position for our team !

Saturday morning, dry wheather.

2 qualifying sessions and the first race are planned for today.

One hour before the start of the race, it starts to rain.. We are hesitating about the tires to use. Wet or slicks tires ? As it doesn't rain that much .. and some parts of the circuit remain dry.  All the cars have slick tires.

A wonderlful race for Fabien Thuner, a long time in 3rd position. He lost 2 positions in the last lap due to technical problems;

Jochen Habets took a very good start, and finishes 9th.

Michele Faccin,  finishes at the 6th position.

Tomorrow, Sunday, the second race of the week-end.

See you soon.

After a few days off, we are back for the second part of the season. 3 meetings to go : Silverstone, Le Castellet. Really bad wheather when we arrived here at Silverstone, 12 degrees, a lot of rain and wind. Very nice to build the awning.

The collective tests are planned for this Friday : and the wheather is now nice, and dry. Some sun and some clouds, but at least no rain.

Free practice 1 :

4. Michele Faccin

6. Fabien Thuner

11 . Jochen Habets

Free practice 2 :

5. Michele Faccin

7. Fabien Thuner

9. Jochen Habets

Qualifying session and Race 1 are planned for Saturday.

See you tomorrow.

Next Meeting at Silverstone, in United Kingdon, on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21th of August :

the Eurocup Megane Trophy - World Series by Renault !

Our Megane Drivers  : Fabien Thuner, Jochen Habets and Michele Faccin.

“I finally managed to end my pilot career with dignity”

Monaco, July 15, 2011 – For its 17^th consecutive year, the Goodwood Festival of Speed, which took place on June 30^th -July 3^rd 2011, has offered its 175 000 spectators a unique opportunity to re-discover the mighty Toyota GT One and one of its most emblematic driver, Thierry Boutsen. The Belgian driver was indeed the one who, when leading the 1999 Le Mans 24 Hours race, suffered a major accident with the GT-One.

The invitation from Toyota and from the organizers of the Goodwood Festival of Speed to line up and take the GT-One to the famous hill race was the occasion for Boutsen to symbolically put an end to his motorsport driver’s career with dignity.

“The accident which forced me to abandon the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in 1999 also ended brutally my career, explained Thierry Boutsen after driving the GT-One in Goodwood on Sunday 3^rd, 2011. It was both frustrating and upsetting as I had the sour feeling that I could have raced to victory that year, and then quit racing. With the few laps I did with the GT-One this week end I managed to end my driver’s career with dignity”.

The Toyota GT-One was an endurance car developed by TTE (Toyota Team Europe) led by Ove Andersson in Cologne, Germany. The car, designed by André de Cortanze, was first introduced in the 1998 Le Mans 24 Hours race. During that race, Thierry Boutsen, Ralf Kelleners and Geoff Lees, driving the car number 29, led the race during 23 hours 15’… retiring 45 minutes before the race end because of a gearbox failure.

 “The GT-One’s first Le Mans race in 1999 brought a mix of emotion, enthusiasm and frustration, remembers Thierry Boutsen. The car was performing extremely well both in terms of road handling and power. This gearbox failure has been one of my worst souvenir in motorsport”.

After these encouraging debuts, Toyota was back in 1999 with three cars and, again, scored impressive results during the qualification with the 1^st, 2^nd and 8^th position on the starting grid. The race however did kill Toyota’s hope to win the race after several problems. Toyota lost the first GT-One after 90 laps, with a double tire puncture that left the car unable to return to the pits.

The second car, while leading the race with Thierry Boutsen at its wheel, suffered a high speed crash when passing a much slower car just before the Dunlop chicane. The GT-One literally took-off before crashing into the tire wall. Thierry Boutsen was trapped in the car’s wreckage and had to be extracted by the rescue team. He was transported to a nearby hospital suffering from broken vertebras.  It took Boutsen about 2 year to fully recover. But the racing times were over. On Monday 14, June 1999, lying on his bed in the hospital, Boutsen announced his decision to retire from competition. “It was certainly not an easy decision to take, he recalls, but it was the only one I had”.

After his accident with the GT-One, Thierry Boutsen devoted his professional life to Boutsen Aviation, a company he had created with his wife Daniela in 1997. Based in Monaco, Boutsen Aviation’s main mission was initially trading corporate aircraft. Since then, Boutsen’s company has sold over 210 airplanes and helicopters and has gained a solid reputation of expertise, experience and knowledge of the global market. Boutsen Aviation has expanded its business activities and is now offering a complete support to potential corporate jet owners, ranging from technical and financial assessment, acquisition process and maintenance to the management and operation of the aircraft. Boutsen Aviation also offers cabin interior design and decoration, consultancy for cabin completion and refurbishing as well as technical aircraft upgrading.

Thierry Boutsen’s background

Thierry Boutsen made its Formula 1 debut in May 1983, driving for the Arrows GP team at his home race, the Belgian Grand Prix. During his 10 year-career in F1, Boutsen joined some of the finest team including Williams and Benetton. A close friend to Ayrton Senna, Thierry Boutsen won 3 Grand Prix and finished 4^th in the World Drivers’ Championship. In parallel to its career in Formula 1, Boutsen also participated to several endurance races including the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. He won the famous Daytona 24 hour race in 1985, clinched the Endurance World Title in 1986 and the US GT Championship in 1998, all with Porsche. In addition to his strong involvement in aviation, Boutsen is still very active in motor racing, through the Boutsen Energy Racing team of his sister Olivia, and brother in law, Olivier Lainé. This racing team aims at promoting young talents in motorsport

We are looking for a "cook" to come with us on race tracks,

to take care of our hospitality and to prepare nice food for the team, drivers and accompaniants.

Of course, you must have a real passion for the race  and the food.

Ready to travel from Thursday to Sunday following our planning.

You are interested ? please contact us by mail : contact@boutsenenergy.com

A week-end full of twists and racing facts ..

Race 2 :

The race starts, Michele Faccin is hit at the level of his left door. His door opens.. after a few meters !

Fabien has been pushed in the first corner, runaway. Goes back into the race.

Black and orange flag for Michele Faccin, who has to come into the pits to close his door and realize his mandatory pit-stop. But after a few laps, his door is again open...

Fabien, a little bit too impetuous, hit another car when overtaking, can continue but takes a penalty..

Jochen Habets, realizes a good race, improving lap after lap.

Classification race 2 :

7. Jochen Habets

9. Michele Faccin

11. Fabien Thuner

Fabien Thuner : "The team is also participating to the Le Mans Series, with a LMP2 Proto, and part of the staff was at Imola. But the team present at Budapest has well worked and I thank them for his job. I am so sorry that I haven't succeed to be on the podium. My results, this week-end, were not as good as expected, but I must be objective and remain positive. I have realized very good times during this last 3 days and this is what I would like to keep in memory.  We have everything to succeed, the team, the car, .. I am now 5th in the championship, and the season is not yet finished !"

Le Mans Series - 1000 kms d'Imola :

15 grades at Budapest, 35 grades at Imola.

Very good stard for Dominik Kraihamer, who is 2nd after the first lap. 

But runaway for Dominik after 20  minutes of race; after 2 1/2 hours, they are back in the race, as they are in 5th position. But got now mechanical problems (starter) , as the other Oreca LMP2 cars.

We finish at the 10th LMP2 position, and are now 3rd in the Championship.

Dominik Kraihamer : "It was a bad race, I have made 2 mistakes, in the beginning of the race, and then we got mechanical problems, we lost 20 minutes. Thanks to the team, who made a fantastic job, it is always a pleasure to drive for them !"

Qualif 1 : 3. Thuner, 7. Faccin, 12. Habets

Qualif 2 : 5. Thuner, 6. Faccin, 13. Habets

Race 1 :

Saturday 2nd of July, the wheather is now nice in Budapest. Sun and windy. 

Comini, the pole-man doesn't succeed to start the race. Fabien, 3rd in qualifying, avoids him. He is 4th after the first lap. But runaway when trying to become 3rd. He is now just after his teammate, Michele Faccin.. And our 2 drivers arrive together in a corner and go out together.. and loose a few seconds. They are now 17th and 18th. In the front of the race, a lot of fighting, collisions and runaways. Jochen Habets, becomes 4th. But has been hit in the last lap..

Classification :

8. Michele Faccin

9. Fabien Thuner

10. Jochen Habets

Le Mans Series - Imola - Italy

Free practices 3 : Pole position for our LMP2, and the 7nd place for the general classification.

Qualif : 2nd LMP2,

The 1000 kms race at Imola is for tomorrow.

Le Mans Series - Imola

1st session : 1st position - LMP2 Classification - 10th position, general classification. 

2nd session : 3rd position LMP2

Megane Trophy - Budapest

Collective tests at Budapest

First session :

2. Fabien Thuner

4. Michele Faccin

13. Jochen Habets

Second session :

4. Fabien Thuner

7. Michele Faccin

12. Jochen Habets

Qualifying session and race 1 planned for Saturday.

Le Mans Series  at Imola : a 1000 kms race, which will start at 2 pm on Sunday. 

Our LMP2 drivers :  Dominik Kraihamer & Nicolas De Crem.

Just 1 point behind the leaders of the championship.

World Series by Renault at Budapest : our 3 Megane are ready : 

Our drivers :  Fabien Thuner, Jochen Habets, and Michele Faccin.

First race on Saturday afternoon, second race, on Sunday afternoon. 

To follow into the news ...

10th position for Igor Tananov, a new podium for Johan-Boris Scheier !

The 2nd race of the week-end is divided in 2 rounds, with a 10 minutes stop in between.

1st round :

After his yesterday's victory, Jobo starts from the 6th position as the starting grid is reversed for the 6 first drivers. Very good start, he is in 4th position after onelap. And succeeds to get the 3rd position in the last meters of the race.

He is 3rd.

Very nice improvement for Igor Tananov, for which it is the best result of the season. He starts from the 16th position, and finishes at the 10th positio

2nd round :

We take the same order .. for the second round.

Jobo Scheier finishes 3rd and Igor 10th.

It was a nice week-end !

Pole position  and win for our driver, Johan-Boris Scheier !

21th position in qualifying for Igor Tananov.

Last year, he had nearly won all races, and finished the season as Vice-Champion Supercopa Seat.

This year, he left his place to the others, but found the opportunity to come and drive for our team for the meeting at Val De Vienne.

And was directly on the top :

pole position in the free practices, pole in qualifying session and win for the Race 1.

Tomorrow, Sunday, 2nd race, .. with a reversed starting grid.

So he will start from the 6th position.

A real happiness for Jobo !

Igor Tananov, started from the 21th position, and finishes at the 16th position.

See you tomorrow ..

Free practices : pole position for Jobo  !

Johan-Boris Scheier will be our driver this week-end at Val De Vienne, for the Supercopa Seat championship, Jobo was our Vice-Champion in 2010  !

He will share his experience with our young russian driver Igor  Tananov.

The free practices are for today, qualifying session and race 1 for tomorrow, on Saturday.

Race 2 is planned for Sunday afternoon. See you soon...

Free pratices :

Pole position for Jobo !

18th position for Igor Tananov.

Points but no podium in Germany.

Saturday, 2 qualifying sessions and the first race of the week-end. With the rain as guest ...

For the qualifying session, the track is dry, but there is a lot of wind, and grey clouds. The session starts with delay, due to the numerous red flags in the others series. And already a yellow flag after a few minutes, .. the session is very short, only 15 minutes. So we have to hurry up..

And a safety car will even enter the track...

Our 3 drivers improve in Q2.

Race 1 :

The track is dry when the Megane are going to the grid. All cars are with dry tires.

A few minutes after the start, it begins to rain.. Our 3 Megane drivers have to come back into the pits to change the tires, and to refuel. But our team has only 2 spaces into the pits, Fabien Thuner, has to wait a little bit to get the wet tires. 

The race continues, but the conditions are very difficult, as the track is really wet. A lot of runaways in this first race.

But our 3 drivers are performing well and remains on the track : 

Michele Faccin finishes 6, Fabien Thuner 9th and Jochen Habets 14th.

Race 2 :

Sunday, at least, it is clear, it is raining since we wake up..

We are nearly into the summer,.. and we have only 8 degrees here in Germany.

All the drivers have the wet tires. Some technical problem for Michele Faccin to start his car, .. he is the last one to arrive on the grid, but he is ready to jump at the start. 

The start is given on a real wet track. A first runaway for 2 drivers, and the safety car enters the track.

All the Megane cars come into the pits for the mandatory pit-stop, and this time, we succeed well. 

Again the race is very difficult with the wheather conditions. Jochen Habets can't avoid the runaway.

Fabien finishes 5th, followed by Michele, 6th.

Championship : Fabien Thuner 5th, Michele Faccin, 6th and Jochen Habets, 10th.

Team ranking : 3rd position for our team.

We will do better at Budapest, within 2 weeks  !

Let's go for 2 free practices sessions today !

Practices on a dry track, but it is now raining on the circuit.

The rain is also announced for tomorrow Saturday, and for Sunday..

See you soon ..

After Motorland and Spa, Nurburgring in Germany..

Another race week-end ....

2 rounds of the Eurocup Megane Trophy will be held on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 June at Nurburgring during the World Series by Renault events.

Fabien Thuner and Michele Faccin, both on the podium at Spa, will try to be even better in Germany, with, why not, a victory ? 

Jochen Habets, (5th at Spa), will  aim the podium.

Championship :

4. Fabien Thuner

7. Michele Faccin

8. Jochen Habets

The first free practices are already planned for Friday : they will be ready, in any case !  See you soon  ..

For the race week-ends, we are looking for :

- a truckie wih trucks permit

- a cook

Please send us your CV by mail : contact@boutsenenergy.com

Our young russian driver, Igor Tananov, scores for the Race 1.

Qualified in 16th position, on Saturday, Igor realizes a very good race Sunday morning, as he finished at 11th position. 

He takes 8 points for the Race 1 of the Championship Supercopa Seat France.

He has been less lucky in Race 2, planned on Sunday afternoon, as he had to abandon in the round 1 of Race 2.

Race 2 is divided in 2 rounds of 15 minutes, with a 10 minutes stop.

In this exciting championship, Igor Tananov is now in 20th position.

Dorian Boisdron, engineer : “We are pleased with the progresses made by Igor during this weekend at Dijon: This is his best result since the start of the season ! He scored new points in the first race and this puts him in confidence. We are no more far from the top 10 and we will all work to achieve this goal. Consistency will come when Igor will be more experimented; this is what we are lacking since the start of the championship, but it will come, for sure.”

Next meeting Supercopa Seat : Val De Vienne - 25 & 26 June 2011.

Free practices, today, at Dijon for our Russian driver, Igor Tananov, who well improved..

Qualifying session is planned for tomorrow, the 2 races are planned for Sunday.

the podium for the 2nd position !  The win is around the corner !

Our drivers, Nicolas De Crem and Dominik Kraihamer finish second after having  held the leadership of the LMP2 class.

At the moment of our car, driven by Dominik, crossed the finish line of 1000 kms of Spa, the cheers have blended into our stand, as we all enjoyed the performance at its fair value. Even if the Le Mans Series Championship is an Endurance championship, the races are true sprints where every second counts. During the second part of the race, and while we were leading the race,  we had to shorten our relay due to a  fuel pump,  prevented us from exploiting the last liters of fuel, and as a consequence, we had to refuel more than expected.

To play it safe and to finish the race, Dominik had to go through the stands 20 minutes before arrival. Despite the speed of our mechanics, this operation has cost us a minute because the pit lane is very long in Francorchamps. And we finish the race in second position, 43 seconds after the winner. The calculation is quickly done ..

The most important in this race, was to sneak at full speed in the traffic caused by the 60 participating cars (a lot of  red flags during the practice and qualifying session ..).

Nicolas De Crem, as Dominik Kraihamer, were well able to take them ahead of the game they were very fast, consistent, they both aligned very good times during  the 6 hours race.

Final result, team and drivers ranking : after this good results : the 2nd place here at Spa, and the 4th place  at Le Castellet, we leave here with the 2nd place in the championship, but with only one point behind the leaders.

Dominik Kraihamer, beaming, holding his trophy for second place LMP2: "It was the best race of my career, I had a lot of pressure here .."

Nicolas De Crem: "I am delighted with this second place, it is the goal I set for myself, our car has always held the outpost here at Spa"

Thierry Boutsen, who participated in the long autograph session (he is still very popular at Spa-Francorchamps) was present in the box from the 1st to the last minute: "I am captivated by the ambiance of the team whose effectiveness deserves all the praise, and I am impressed by the performance of Dominik and Nicolas. They were just 20 years and show a professionalism. The results are there to prove it".

The result of a team  !

Next meeting LE MANS SERIES, 2 & 3 July at Imola,

Program of the day : the 3rd free practices session and the qualifying session

Nicolas De Crem : 3rd LMP2 for the 3rd free practice session

Only 5 laps for Nicolas De Crem, in this 3rd free practice session.

Due to the red flag, caused by the numerous runaways.

Qualifying session :  again a red flag during the session, Nicolas De Crem realizes the 4th time

On the starting grid, in category LMP1, the 3 Audi, just before the Oreca and the Peugeot.

The start is foreseen for 2 pm.

10.00 am : the warm-up

11.00 am : the autographs sessions, don't miss it !.

Free practices: a lot of trafic, runaways and crashes during the second session, which has been reduced. No opportunity to be as quick as wished. But a 3rd free session is planned for tomorrow, before the qualifying session.

60 cars will be on the starting grid on Saturday, you can easily imagine the trafic..

The program :

Thursday 5 May :

12h20 : free practice 1

17h00 : free practice 2

Friday 6 May :

11h50 : free practice 3

16h20 : the qualifying session LMP2

Saturday 7 May :

09h55 : Warm-up

11h00 : the autographs session  !!!

14h00-20h00 : the race of1000 kms, Thierry Boutsen will be present to support the team and our young drivers !.

Friday's program, 2 free practice sessions.

Michele Faccin surprises us with his 3rd time in the afternoon, but this will be marked by the runaway of Fabien Thuner. Through hard work of the mechanics who worked throughout the night, the Swiss driver's car will be ready to participate to the Qualifying sessions!

Saturday, 2 qualifying sessions :

Qualifying 1 : 5. Michele Faccin – 8. Fabien Thuner – 9. Jochen Habets

Qualifying 2 : 3. Michele Faccin – 5. Fabien Thuner – 9. Jochen Habets

Race 1 : It is a real sprint start. With runaways. The safety car joins the track. The cards are reshuffled. Fabien Thuner ends on the 3rd step of the podium ! Michele Faccin has to abandon, Jochen Habets is 11th.

Fabien Thuner:“This is my first podium finish in Eurocup Mégane Trophy ! I didn't drive much in collective testing as I crashed out. I really needed this result. It's done wonders for my confidence”.

Sunday, Race 2 : another day, another scenario.

It is now the turn for  Fabien Thuner, a little too impetuous, to abandon.  And after a thrilling race, it's time for our Italian driver, Michele Faccin to get on the podium, the first of his young career in Megane Trophy. It also highlights the strong performance, and progression of Jochen Habets, who finished 5th.

Michele Faccin:"For my first season in saloon car racing, I'm really happy to already be on the podium. I’m improving and I feel better and better in the car. The team is helping me to progress quickly. I can’t wait for the Nürburgring."

Friday 29 April : Collective tests sessions for our 3 Megane drivers, Michele Faccin, Fabien Thuner and Jochen Habets,

Saturday 30 April : the 2 qualifying sessions and the race 1

Sunday 1st of May : the race 2.

All the infos will follow..

Michele Faccin:"I’ve already competed here in the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 and it’s a circuit I love. In 2010 I didn’t have a seat at all, so I need to get back into the rhythm of competition. I’m discovering saloon car racing for the first time this year. I need a little time, I know I'm here to learn, but it's satisfying to be on the pace today. I'm progressing, that's my goal. Now I need to handle the qualifying and that’s another business."

Supercopa Seat - Coupes de Pâques at Nogaro - France

Our your russian driver, Igor Tananov, was ready to get a little bit more experience with the Supercopa Seat, during this Easter week-end..

Qualif :  19th, but the gap was only 1 second, .. you can easily imagine the level of the series..

Race 1 : accident in the first laps, he will be classified 22th.

Race 2 :

Round 1 : 17th.

Round 2 : 19th

Next Supercopa Seat race : Dijon,  14 & 15 May 2011.

Fabien Thuner : drivers ranking : 4th after the 2 first races

Fabien : "I am happy after this first week-end as the progression has been constant.  The team has worked a lot on the cars to get impeccable settings  for the first race, everyone is motivated to continue like this. I come back with points and a 4th place in the championship. Something to look forward for the rest of the season. The next meeting is in just two weeks at Spa (Belgium), and my team will be at home and determined to do even better! " 

Jochen Habets, who was discovering the Eurocup Megane Trophy Championship, has scored twice, and takes the 8th position of the championship.

Jochen : "I have learned a lot  during this week-end. It could have been better in Qualifying session without this tires problem. I would like to thank mechanics, engineer and the rest of the team Boutsen Energy. See you in Spa.".

It was warm and sunny in the team and on the track.

The season Eurocup Megane Trophy is launched and we can already bet that we will have an exciting season with our 3 drivers.

Friday : first session of the collective tests : Michele Faccin,  was the fastest, signing the 4th time, just ahead of Fabien Thuner, 5th, and Jochen Habets, 6th.

In the second session, Fabien Thuner took the leadership of our drivers, by signing the sixth time in front of Michele Faccin and Jochen Habets.

Saturday, 2 qualifying sessions and already the first race of the year !

Race 1 : Saturday

They elbow in the early rounds, Michele Faccin was hit and had to withdraw. Fabien Thuner, 4th, looses a spot on pit-stop, he finished fifth, while Jochen Habets, qualified 13th, improved well to the 7th place.

Race 2 : Sunday

This time, the 3 drivers remains on track. Fabien is nearly on the podium (4th) which was his best result in 2010, while Michele took the 8th position in front Jochen 9th.

Drivers ranking  :

4. Fabien Thuner

8. Jochen Habets

9. Michele Faccin

Team ranking : 3rd

Michele Faccin :  “Motorland was the only circuit I didn’t know ... comparing to the other drivers who were testing here. I realize that the more I drive this car, the more I find its limits, and as a first approach to tourism cars, I'm pretty satisfied. Already in collective tests, I was very quick. The feeling with the team is fantastic, his professionalism and his passion are incredible. I'm sorry I had to abandon in the first round. Race 2 was very difficult for me but I still scored points. I am sure we will find the right way at Spa-Francorchamps I like, I've always been very quick there.. “

A learning year for Igor Tananov, .. but already in the points !

Our young Russian driver, Igor Tananov discovers the France and its racing circuits through the Seat Supercopa Championship France.

To summarize the weekend of qualifying and racing : learning and constant progress .. since he is already marking its first points in this discipline he discovers.

Dorian Boisdron, engineer : “A “very warm” week-end for the team members, the driver and the car.

Igor has well improved during the week-end, and has worked a lot during the different sessions. We look forward to go to Nogaro ... with the aim of entering in the top 10.”

Next races : "les coupes de Pâques" at Nogaro, 24-25 April 2011.

After attending the Le Mans Endurance Championship Series with a Formula Le Mans in 2010, the team has climbed one more step : the project of Olivier Lainé LMP2 has finally materialized.

Our 2 drivers Nicolas De Crem and Dominik Kraihamer took possession of their new car at the Castellet circuit.

The first free practice session on Friday 1 April and already the fastest LMP2!

In qualifying, Dominik Kraihamer realizes the time of the second category and 5th place overall.

Rolling start of the race : while the light turns green, the safety car remains on track for a second round, behind it is the "strike"! Dominik who is driving realizes a superb start. After 3 hours of racing, our car is pointed in second place, just behind a LMP1 !  But suddenly, when Nicolas De Crem enters the pits after a perfect relay, he is unable to get the car running : the battery gave up the ghost. The time to change it, we lose precious minutes ..

Finally, a 4th place LMP2. But lots of hope for the rest of the season 2011.

Dominik Kraihamer: "In the first minutes, the disappointment was huge but a lot of people came to congratulate me, then I measured our performance. The car was fast, we were 2 laps before the next car. Our strategy: a pair of two drivers ! It's very fun to be so competitive. I'm already thinking about our next race: the 1000 km of Spa on May 7”.

Nicolas De Crem :"This week-end has been outstanding despite the final result. The whole team showed its rapid adaptation to this new LMP2 challenge. Despite the battery problem, we marked important points for the Championship, our main objective. We will meet you at Spa where we will play in "our" garden".

Olivier Lainé : "I would like to take the opportunity to thank the drivers .. but also all the team members for this new LMP2 adventure !"

Thierry Boutsen :  : « I found it exceptional !  With a brand new car, with no preliminary tests, to fight for 2nd place overall, leading the category during the first half of the race, it is proof that the team and drivers are at the strongest. The victory in LMP2 escaped after a faulty battery, this is only a postponement. I'm excited for the rest of the season in the LMP2 class and am confident that with a little more success, "Boutsen Energy Racing will aim high. Podium at Spa?"

Le Mans Series - Castellet  - Free practices and Qualifying session

Yesterday, Friday, best time for our team in the catagory LMP2, but in the afternoon, some technical problem during the second session.

This morning, Saturday, 3rd free practices session, our drivers, Nicolas De Crem are  in the 5th position.

Qualifying session : a wonderful second place in the LMP2 category, and the 6th place for the general ranking.

The race is planned for tomorrow at noon.. see you soon !!

Flying start for the “Le Mans Series 2011 ".

The 2011 season Le Mans Series will be launched on the demanding route of the Paul Ricard circuit  from 1 to 3 April.

On the occasion of the 6 Hours of Le Castellet, thirty-six teams will gather to mark the first points of a season that looks played in all five categories.

The project of Olivier Lainé has been finalised : it  will be the baptism of our new ORECA car in the LMP2 class !

Please follow the number "45" !

Dominik Kraihamer and Nicolas De Crem will be our 2 drivers as last year.

In the stands, we will be pleased to welcome Thierry Boutsen as supporter of the team.

The first two free practice sessions take place on Friday (11:55 to 12:55 and 16:30-17h30).

Saturday, the third free practice session (9h-10h) will precede the qualifications (1:45 p.m. to 2:35 p.m.).

Sunday, after the warm-up (9:20-9am), drivers will set off at noon for a 6 hours race.

Find the time for all sessions and the race live timing on www.lemans-series.com.

First start and first race finished at the 14th position.

Eurocup Megane Trophy Barcelone : 2nd day - Collective tests

Preparations for the impending season's Eurocup Megane Trophy 2011 were brought to a conclusion on the Catalunya track, with two days of collective testing.

Fabien Thuner took the opportunity to visit the top of the timesheets, with the best time of the last session of collective testin.

Michele Faccin was discovering the team and our car and improved well during this 2 days session.

Technical problems for Jochen Habets who could not realize any good time.The team is already working very hard to solve the problems.

See you at Motorland for the 1st race of the year, on 16 + 17 april 2011.

Fabien Thuner : "I'm pretty happy because I finished the testing by improving on this morning’s time. The car drove well and, we have had any difficulties. I'm ready for the first race at Motorland Aragon and I’m hopeful that I'll be fighting for the title! But I remain cautious: the Eurocup Mégane Trophy races are full of action and always fiercely contested right up to the checkered flag!"

Michele Faccin : I'm so pleased about the 2 days testing in Barcelona, I found a very nice feeling with the car also with used tyres. I'm very happy with the team, they work very well, Massimo is a very good engineer and I found immediately a nice feeling with him. George gave me a lot of useful tips and I'm very grateful.

I'm sure that we can have a fantastic season together with a lot of satisfaction.

I'm very happy to have found an agreement with Boutsen Team.

Thank you Olivia!

2 days of collective tests before the 1st race of the season, at Motorland

25th of March :  DAY 1

After having participated to the Winter Series, (3 wins), Igor Tananov, the young russian driver will participate to the Supercopa Seat France in 2011.

We just have to learn "russian" now  !

Удачи Игорь!

Benvenuto Michele !

The next collective tests will be held at Barcelona, where we will welcome our 3rd Megane driver, Michele Faccin, who joins Fabien Thuner and Jochen Habets.

The young italian driver, (21 years old), has already a nice route since he started to race in 2005.

Michele Faccin, our 3rd Megane driver : "Buona Fortuna !"

2005 : ICA Junior Championship

2006 : 5th Formula Azzurra, 5th Winter Trophy Formula Renault 2.0

2007 : 5th LO Formule 2.0 Suisse championship

2008 : 2nd Formula Renault Italy, 9th Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup

2009 : 5th Copa de Espana, European F3 Open championship, races in the Italy and British F3 International Series,

2010 : Superstars GT Sprint F430 GT2 Imola, 6 hours of Vallelunga Renault Megane V6,

2011 : Eurocup Megane Trophy

His car will have the number 27.

Parts  FORMULE RENAULT 1.6

150  € excl vat / part : 2 X COMPLETE FROM CRASH BOX

150  € excl vat : ENGINE BONNET/HOOD

Pictures and info, upon request : contact@boutsenenergy.com

For sale  :

PARTS  FERRARI F430 – GT3

New

250 € excl vat : 1 NEW RIM                                     

300 € excl vat : 1 NEW FRONT SHOK-ABSORBER     

Used

200 € excl vat : 1 REAR EXTRACTOR                   

500 € excl vat : 1 FRONT SPLITTER                     

100 € excl vat : 1 RIGHT SIDE SILL                    

Infos and pictures upon request : contact@boutsenenergy.com

Collective tests

Thursday 10 & Friday 11 March 2011

Nick Catsburg, Champion Megane 2010, is testing for us !

After Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 and Formula Renault 3.5 Series, it was now the collective tests for  the Eurocup Megane Trophy at Motorland Aragón. 20 Megane cars with the 2011 evolutions.

It was the first taste of action for the  Mégane Trophy cars, complete with the new developments for the 2011 season, including a new wider rear wing, a new front brake cooling system and the fitting of front and rear wheel arches.

The first day was there to discover the new evolutions for everyboday, the new team, the new circuits. We could see a lot of new drivers also.

Friday, the winner of the Eurocup Megane Trophy, Nick Catsburg, was testing for our team as we still had one seat available !

Nick Catsburg :« This testday has been decided yesterday when Boutsen Energy Racing contacted me. My first objective is to participate to 24 Hours race. But if we can organise a competitive program in Eurocup Megane Trophy, that would be interesting for me to keep my title.. I would love to test again with Nismo.. and for this, I need to win again the championship. This is a good challenge. Nobody has succeeded twice in this championship, but nothing is decided yet ".

Fabien Thuner, Number 11, this season.

Collective tests  10+11/03/2011

Here it is, the season has started, first practices sessions at Motorland in Spain...

Day 1- Thursday 10th of March

Jochen Habets, the newcomer in the Championship Megane  Trophy, is number 10.

A new step for the team !

They were already participating to the Le Mans Series Championship, in the Formula Le Mans ranking. In 2011, Dominik Kraihamer and Nicolas De Crem, cross 1 more step in their career as they will participate to the prestigious Le Mans Series Championship, driving an Oreca 03 LMP2  !!!

The 2 drivers knows each other well, and we wish them all the success they deserve  !

Please discover the new look of the car  :

1st race of the year  : the 8 Hours of Le Castellet,  3 & 4 April, South of France. 

Good luck, boys !

FORMULA LE MANS

3rd  LE MANS SERIES Championship 2010 -  FLM ranking

Interested ?  contact@boutsenenergy.com

A wonderful car ..

Engine 3 rotors  20B - 3 litres

Sequential gearbox SADEV 6 speeds

Motec management system

Tubular frame

Base Megane Trophy

Suspension Megane Trophy

450 hp

A lot of spare parts (list on request)

Pole, podiums and wins 2009

Visible at our workshop at Wavre - Belgium

Requested price  : 80.000 € excl vat

* * * * LOOKING FOR A  MEGANE DRIVER * * * * * *

To complete our team, we are looking for a driver for the Eurocup Megane Trophy Championship. Already 2 drivers confirmed  : Fabien Thuner and Jochen Habets

Planning 2011 :

Motorland Aragon – Spain :                        16-17/04/2011

Spa-Francorchamps – Belgium :                 30/04-01/05/2011

Nurburgring – Germany :                           18-19/06/2011

Hungaroring – Hungary :                            02-03/07/2011

Silverstone – England :                              20-21/08/2011

Paul Ricard Castellet – France :                 17-18/09/2011

Catalunya – Spain :                                   08-09/10/2011

Collective tests sessions  : 

Motorland – Spain                                    10+11/03/2011

Catalunya – Spain                                    25+26/03/2011

Please contact us by mail : contact@boutsenenergy.com or by phone  +32 10 24 49 84

Kenwood : 2 radios TK3140 + 1 charger

Requested price : 400 € vat excl

Kenwood : 6 radios KSC 31 + 6 helmets  (suitcase is not included)

Requested price  : 1.980 € vat excl

2 radios bases Kenwood - ref TK8162E : 400 € vat excl

Motorola : 3 radios CP040 + 3 helmets  (case not included)

2 radios base CM140

Requested price  : 1.100 € vat excl

Relais : 750 € vat excl.

3 races  : 3 wins for our driver Igor Tananov, in the Tourism Cars category !

30 cars and several fights on the track at Le Castellet, for the second "Winter Series" day. 

Spectators who came in a large number were present for the 3 victories of the young Russian driver, Igor Tananov, who won the 2 sprint races and the Endurance race, category "Trophee" reserved to the "Tourisme" cars.

Congratulations, Igor !

See you soon for next races !

CHASSIS  CLIO 3

With openings : front bonnet/hood, door, tailboard

And rear & front bumpers – from previous phase of the Clio 3 (before restyling)

Price : 2.500 € exc vat

Contact by mail : contact@boutsenenergy.com or by phone  +32 10 24 49 84

Car body : Megane 2008

Price : 1.800 € excl vat

Contact by mail : contact@boutsenenergy.com or by phone  +32 10 24 49 84.

Maxime Martin, Vice-Champion Eurocup Megane 2008

The "Winter Series" day will be held at Le Castellet on Sunday.

Planning of the day :

120 minutes free practice

1 qualifying session of 30 minutes

2 Sprints - 20 minutes

1 Endurance race -  60 minutes

It will be a busy day for  Igor Tananov, young russian driver, 17 year old, who will represent our team, driving the Supercopa Seat. 

In 2007-2008-2009, Igor Tananov has participated to the russian karting Cup Rotax Max Junior Championship,

In 2010, he has competed in the russian KF2 Championship but also in the Russian Touring Car Championship.

He knows the Supercopa Seat car as he was in Italy for the last race of the italian championship. 

Good luck, Igor  !

for Eurocup Megane Trophy and Le Mans Series

Please contact us as soon as possible.

Pierre Perret : «Only wonderful memories and  a great experience HAPPINESS HAPPINESS !

Sounds, images and sensations. Not a single false note ... 5 friends from different backgrounds have discovered themselves, and appreciated and a strong and sincere friendship has been developed between them through the sport called “Getlemen motorsport”. After the disorientation and surprise related to the discovery of this “strange” country  for us Europeans, we have been immediately put in the bath of the race, very seriously, both from the side of the team and drivers. As good studious students wishing to do something well, we listened with great attention to the advice of our head coaches  and it happened what had to happen. The result far exceeds our initial expectations (we had to finish! ).  

But at the end, this race was a real great human adventure. The preparation of the car, the professionalism added to the calm and serenity of the Team, Olivia, Olivier Bernard, Lolo, always listening to us, the hostel, catering, the third half-time in the evening (especially with our main sponsor for our Care), our mentors and companions always there to support us, the beautiful matching ouveralls (like the real ones) and finally a superb circuit, "fast fast". Splendid cars (SLS, Z4, F430, Gallardo, MOSLER etc ...) and the magic of 24H. Thank you for making me live the end  of a great 24 Hours race (sniff!) driving "my “ car.

PIERROT is ready to start whenever you want ! "

 

The comments of the drivers :

Jean-Charles Battut : «The 24 Hours of Dubai is a fabulous race, in an original setting and in a competitive atmosphere with a higher level every year. This time the podium has smiled to us : the 3rd place  makes us forget all the difficulties we may encounter during a race of this length. The team was on top! We meshed very well with other drivers and the team Boutsen Energy Racing was fabulous as usual. The RMS team was also on top! In short, it's an adventure to extend very quickly because we have the winning overall. “

The podium and the comments of our drivers  :

Philippe Ulivieri : « It has been a real satisfaction to come back with this result. Our objective was to finish the race. But with a very well prepared car, thanks to Bernard Jubin from RMS,  a wonderful race assistance and a very good organisation of the Boutsen Energy team, and also very concentred drivers, we have been able to review our objective.

I would like to thank the Boutsen Energy team : Olivia, Olivier, Jacques, Dorian, Julien and Nicolas, and also RMS, Bernard and Laurent. And of course, my nice and friendly drivers.  »

Eric Vaissière : « This is my first 24 hours race, and I can not be more happy : a dream race without problem. A very good strategy organised by Bernard and Olivier. And at the end, the podium ! The 2 teams have really worked together, RMS and BOUTSEN ENERGY. I would like to do it again next year.."

It is a real success for this beautiful human adventure ! Thanks also to all the mechanics.."

Gilbert Duconget : "I have spent a wonderful week at Dubai, thanks to you ..

The enthousiasme and profesionalisme of Olivier, the organisation of Olivia : these were the key of the success for this wonderful race. I wish we can race again with the Boutsen Energy racing team".

Podium "997" on the sunshine of the United Arab Emirates !!

This is a very nice race to start the season  ..

As every year, the 24 Hours of Dubai race means the beginning of  our racing season.

84 cars have started the race on Friday 2 pm. 

The 24 Hours of Dubai were for us  : very nice drivers, a very well prepared car, and a good team to succeed in this wonderful adventure in the Arabian United States !

The result   ?

A podium for the 3rd place in the Porsche 997 ranking for our team of 5 drivers : 

Philippe Ulivieri, Pierre Perret, Jean-Charles Battut, Gilbert Duconget and Eric Vaissiere.

Pit-stop after pit-stop without any problem ..

We look forward for 2012...

This is also Dubai, the ski-dome in the Mall of Emirates

See you soon !

The team is well arrived in Dubai as the car,,which came by contairer.

And it was a little bit raining when we arrived !

But today, 22 degrees and windy wheather.

A lot of very nice cars here at Dubai : Porsche, Lambo, Ferrari 430, BMW, Lotus, Aston Martin, and even 2 Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 .....

Free practice session  1 : 51th overall ranking, and 7th position for the 997 group

Free practice session 2  : 41th overall ranking and 6th position for he  997 group

For the moment, everything is OK  !

Qualif : overall ranking : 38  - category 997 : 6th position

Tonight, another free night session.

First laps to discover the circuit for 4drivers :  Gilbert Duconget, Philippe Ulivieri, Pierre Perret and Eric Vaissiere.

Jean-Charles Battut, driving here at Dubai, is here for the second time, he was already driving for our team last year with a Clio. He seems to be very happy to find the place and the city.

Tomorrow, the warm-up and also the start of the race at 2 pm.

The 24 Hours race will start on Friday 14 to Saturday 15 of January at 2 pm.

Our  team will assist the Porsche 997 Cup number 34.

The drivers :

Jean-Charles Battut

Pierre Perret

Philippe Ulivieri

Eric Vaissière

Gilbert Duconget

Free practice and qualifying session on Thursday 13 of January.

A wonderful experience in a fantastic location ..

After Thierry Boutsen ..

This is it ! He has realised his dream ! He will be the teammate of Timo Glock, for the Virgin team in 2011 !!

The culmination of hard work ..

After his brillant start in karting, to Formula 1, and through our team, what a route  !

We remember with pleasure his first year of single seater, under our flag in 2003 when he won the championship  Formula Renault 1.6.

Good luck, Jerome !!!

Fabien will stay with us next season..

Arrived last year in our team, the Swiss driver has re-signed for one season  with us.

And we're delighted.

For his first year into this Eurocup Megane championship, Fabien has shown its potential : he is now ready to score more points and to climb onto the top step of the podium.  

That's what we wish for him.

Fabien Thuner: "The Eurocup 2011 is completed, it is time to prepare 2011. It's official, I will attend the Eurocup Megane Trophy with the team Boutsen Energy Racing for the 2011 season. Before that, I am preparing to be at the top for the start of the Championship.  My programme : karting, running on other cars, driving on ice and physical preparation. And full throttle on 2011! "

Eurocup Megane Trophy 2011 - Jochen Habets

We welcome in our team  the young Dutch Jochen Habets, who shone during the final round of the GT Open Championship at Zolder. He will participate to the Eurocup Megane Trophy Championship, in the World Series by Renault.

This Championship will begin with collective test in March, the first race is scheduled at Motorland in Spain on 17.04.2011. The next meeting will take place as every year at Spa-Francorchamps, on May 1st, 2011.

Welcome Jochen and good luck !!!

Jochen Habets : « It's great to be able to participate in a league in which all the drivers have the same car ! I will be in optimal conditions as I will be driving for the "Boutsen Energy Racing" team. The World Series by Renault is a logical step in my career ..."»

To reinforce our racing team, we are looking for a mechanic with experience and hyper-motivated.

Preparation of the racing cars at our workshop, and travel all around the circuits following the race calendar.

Are you ready for this experience ?

Please contact us  : contact@boutsenenergy.com

Johan-Boris Scheier : Vice-Champion !

We missed 2 points to get the title..

Friday : free practice and qualifying session :

Johan-Boris Scheier had a problem with the gearbox. He is qualified 7.

The mechanics had to work all night to change the gearbox. Thanks to them.

Saturday : Race 1 - Sprint

Qualified 7th, Jobo has been hit by another driver. He loses a few place, and is 14 after the first lap. This is the sprint car, only 20 minutes. That's too short. He will finish 10.

Sunday : Race 2- Endurance

The classification of the Race 1 gives the starting grid of the race 2. Jobo starts 10. He is as quick as the first drivers, but the distance is too big between him and the leaders.  He will finish 8.

His main rival makes the good operation by winning the 2nd round, because it allows him to win the title .. just for 2 points.

4 wins and  7 podiums for the first  Supercopa Seat season :

For sure, we would have love to announce you the winning of the title, as Johan-Boris Scheier was leading the championship during all the season but.. this mechanical problem prevent us to win the title. 

In racing car, nothing is won before the checkered flag ..

The track conditions were wet for the last qualifying session of the season.

And the track was still wet at the start of the race, but it had at least stopped raining so the drivers decided to start the race on slicks.  It was an eventful start which saw Fabien Thuner lose control of his car in the first turn. The race was finished for him. 

Dimittri is 3rd and Renaud is 5th. 

After the pit-stop, Dimitri is on the second position and Renaud Derlot takes the 3rd position.

They are both on the last podium of the Megane season !

Dimitri Enjalbert : «First of all, I really want to congratulate Nick Catsburg and TDS Racing. I’d love to have competed with them, but I’ve had a tough season. Renaud Derlot helped us a lot at the end of the season and thanks to him the last three meetings have been a blast. That was the aim, to put this difficult season behind me. I’d like to dedicate this result to Vito Rodrigues and Caroline Grifnée who couldn’t race this weekend.»

Renaud Derlot : «I made a mistake in qualifying. And starting from tenth, a win was out of the question. But it’s one more podium finish and that’s great news for Boutsen Energy Racing. For me the big challenge is next week, when I have to compete for the French GT title at Magny-Cours."

The day begun well for Dimitri Enjalbert, 4th in qualifying session, but a transmission problem will oblige him to give up in the first lap.

What a shame for him, the quickest Megane driver at Barcelona since 2007  !

Fabien Thuner, qualified 15th, will finish at a nice 7th position. 

Renaud Derlot, again on the podium, for his second position !

A busy evening ...

The next qualifying session and race are planned for tomorrow..

Free practice today for our 3 Megane instead of 4. No time to repare the car of Caroline Grifnée and Vito Rodrigues, crashed at the last race at Silverstone.

First 12 drivers in 1,4 second.

Tomorrow, Saturday, Qualif 1 and Race 1.

Fabien Thuner, in pole position for the free practice..

Eurocup Megane Silverstone - Qualif 2 and Race 2

That was the result after the race. But a decision from the Commissaires will be taken to penalize the collision between Dimitri Enjalbert and Vos during the starting procedure.

Dim scoop a penalty of 25 seonds. He is ranked 8th.

Bad luck ..

A race to forget for Caroline Grifnée : just after the start of the race, the safety car was called as the result of the impressive crash of Caroline Grifnée. She escaped unharmed but our car was completely distroyed. 

The race was suspended for quite some time to clear all the debris from the track. Most drivers took the opportunity to do the mandatory pit-stop. Some drivers had not finished the pit-stop when the safety came in.

A real lotery..

Fun Cup Spa - the 6 hours race

Qualified 38th, and at the 50th position at the end of the race 

Some pit-stop, some parts to repair, ...

But still a podium for the Boutsen Coyote, the Bery Trophee !

Free practices today for our 4 Megane, for the World Series by Renault event : 

Francorchampagne  :

Fun Cup at Spa, the Boutsen Coyote 1 car, number 53, drivent by Pascal Courrier, Vincent Hebert and Fabien Pierlot has been qualified in 38th position.

The 6 hours race is planned for Saturday afternoon.

Qualified in 4th position, (the first 4 FLM in 1 less than 1 second), our car drive by  Nicolas De Crem, Bernard Delhez et Dominik Kraihamer, was really fast.

Nicolas De Crem was starting the race. After a few laps, he was in second position. est très performante.

C'est Nicolas De Crem qui prend le départ et s'adjuge la 2ème position après quelques minutes de course. But a flat tire makes him loosing a precious time.....

It's Bernard Delhez turn's to take the wheel. 

But it is Dominik Kraihamer, very very fast, who will finished the race, in 5th position, in the category FLM.

For the team ranking, we finish the championship at the 3rd position of the category, after our first season, rich in emotions and experiences.

Supercopa Seat : After his win of yesterday, it is a new podium for JB Scheier, with the 3rd position !!

For the second race of the week-end, the grid is reversed for the 6 first drivers. Jo-Bo starts from the 6th position and takes a super -start, and avoids the start incidents. He is in 3rd position after the first lap. Some cut-off engine will prevent him to pass the 2 first drivers. Despite this, he will finish on the 3rd step of the podium ! Always leading the championship, he still has 2 races to achieve the title at Magny-Cours, on 16 & 17 of October. Let's cross the fingers for him ..

Qualif :

The qualifying sessions is just finished. Dominik Kraihamer has realized the 4th best time. Less than 1 second between the 1st FLM and our car. The race will be very interesting !

Supercopa Seat - Albi  - race 1 - win for our driver Johan-Boris Scheier:

Started in pole position, ur driver Jobo Scheier took the lead of the race at the first corner. But the others were not far.. He succeeds to keep the leading till the last lap and wins 3 second before the second driver.

He is still leading the Supercopa Championship but there are still 5 races to go. Congratulations to the Supercopa team !

Tomorrow, the Endurance race, as usually, theorder of the 6 firsts drivers will be reversed, Jobo will start from the 6th position,

See you tomorrow with the Le Mans News and Supercopa news. ...

2 programs this week-end, part of the team is in United Kingdom  while the other preferred to stay in France ...

Le Mans Series at SIlverstone

2 free practices sessions, Bernard Delhez starts the session followed by Nicolas De Crem, who realized the second best time.

Dominik Kraihamer willl end the second free session, and realized the best time  of the FLM category !

The 2rd session will be for tomorrow together with the qualifying session.

The 1000 kms race will start on Sunday at lunch time.

Supercopa Seat at Albi : pole for our driver Johan Boris Scheier !!!!

At Albi, 2 free practices and already the qualifying session. 

9th and 2nd position for the free sessions, and pole position for the qualifying session ! Our driver, Johan-Boris Scheier, will start in pole for the Endurance race of tomorrow.

Let's cross the fingers...

Qualif 2 and Race 2

Again a very intereting race on Sunday, very good pitstops for our team, Renaud Derlot and Dimitri Enjalbert were again the quickest in the pits. 2 very good races for Fabien Thuner, again in the points.

Caroline Grifnée, 13th, is not so far from the points ...

Drivers ranking  :

5. Dimitri Enjalbert

7. Fabien Thuner

Team ranking  : still the 3rd place for our team, thanks to the points of Dimitri and Fabien.  

Renaud Derlot : "I have only good feelings for this week-end. I have spent very nice moments with the team. They are again smiling..This is the most important point. 2 races, 2 podiums, it is good but not enough. We will work hard to prepare Silverstone. Thanks to everybody".

Collective tests on Friday, our newcomer Renaud Derlot, is already again quick, 4 years after his last Megane race.

Renaud Derlot : « I haven't drive in Megane since 2006, but i have quickly found back my automatims. I am currently participating to the GT Championship, with a car equiped with an ABS. Today, i have to take care of the brakes.  I have to work on it. My aim this week-end, is to help Dimitri Enjalbert. He must be confident to win again. He is currently not in "his" position. »

Saturday, qualifying session and Race 1

Podium for Renaud Derlot, fantastic race for all our drivers !

The french driver Renaud Derlot will replace David Dermont who left our team recently to join another team.  

His Megane car will have the number 8.

He is the specialist of endurance and GT races, (he is currently leading the French GT championship ..).  Renaud will be the teammate of Dimitri Enjalbert, Fabien Thuner, Caroline Grifnée and Vito Rodrigues.

We are happy to welcome him in our team.

Racing career highlights  :

1999 : Champion de France F. Ford

2000 : Champion de France FR 2.0

2002 : Champion de France F3

2004 : 24 H of Le Mans

2005 : Vice-Champion Eurocup Megane

2007 : 3rd Carrera Cup France

2009 : Champion France Carrera Cup

2010 : Actual leader of GT French Championship

Qualif : 6th position for our "Formula Le Mans" car, number 45.

Race  :

Start of the race at 4 pm. Distance to drive : 1000 kms. End of the race foreseen at 8 pm.

Nicolas De Crem starts this endurance race, which will be eventuful.  After 1 hour and 30 minutes, Nicolas De Crem is leading the category Formula Le Mans ! He will then gives his place to Bernard Delhez, who, a few minutes later, will hit another car. Back to the pits to repair the car. This 1st position goes away...

A second accident is going to cost us the podium.

Dominik Kraihamer then begins his relay and realizes very good times, but the gap is really to important. Finally they finish the race at the 4 th position, in the category Formula Le Mans.

Formula Le Mans drivers ranking :  Dominik Kraihamer and Nicolas De Crem are 5th, Bernard Delhez 11th.

Formula Le Mans team's ranking : our team is in 3rd position !

Next and last race 2010 for this Le Mans Series Championship : Silverstone, 11 & 12 september.

3 free practice sessions for today.

1st session 

Bernard Delhez starts the session, followed by Nicolas De Crem.

2nd session :

It is now Nicolas De Crem who start the session. After 30 minutes, pitstop and change of driver : the austrian Dominik Kraihamer will finish the session.

3rd session :

It is now Dominik Kraihamer. But the session will be stopped, ,with one car in fire (not our car, fortunately..)

Some gearbox problems during the 3 sessions.

Results :

Free practice 1 : 6th Formula Le Mans.

Free practice 2 : 5th Formula Le Mans.

Free practice 3 : 5th Formula Le Mans.

Next session : this evening.

Let's go to Budapest !

The next Le Mans Series race is planned for Sunday afternoon ..

Our Formula Le Mans is already on her way to Hungaroring, ready to run the 1000 Kms race.

3 free practice sessions on Saturday, qualifying session and race  are foreseen for Sunday.

Nicolas De Crem, Dominik Kraihamer and Bernard Delhez will try to go to the top of the podium !!

Bernard Delhez, Dominik Kraihamer and Nicolas De Crem will try to do as good as at Spa for the 1000 kms, where they finished at the second position.

Here, in Algarve, we now have 35 degrees, the track is very very hot.

Yesterday, the free practices,

today, the qualifying session and the 6 hours race. 

Let's go for the longest race of the world ..

First qualifying session :

Qualif 1

We are now at mid-season, after Spa, Brno, Magny-Cours and Budapest :

The "Megane Team 2010",

From left to right  : Vito Rodrigues, Fabien Thuner, Georges Kaczka, Caroline Grifnée, Olivier Lainé, David Dermont and Dimitri Enjalbert.

Drivers ranking

5. Dimitri Enjalbert

8. Fabien Thuner

11. David Dermont

Team ranking  : 3rd  position

Collective test on Friday, at Budapest :

2 weeks ago, at MagnyCours, we were freezing, here, it so warm.. 35 degrees and no fresh air ..

Collective tests 1 :

8. David Dermont

9. Dimitri Enjalbert

16. Fabien Thuner, (problems on his car)

20. Caroline Grifnée and Vito Rodrigues

Collective tests 2 :

7. Dimitri Enjalbert

9. Fabien Thuner

10. David Dermont

19. Caroline Grifnée and Vito Rodrigues

Pit-stop and refueling exercices yesterday evening ..

Let's go to the circuit of Hungaroring .. in Hungary. 

The news follow ..

Saturday 26 of June  :

Johan-Boris Scheier has realised the 5th best time to start the Sprint Race. He will finish at the 4th position. The podium was not far..

Sunday 27 of June  :

Endurance race : Jobo takes the 4th place .. but keeps the leading of the championship !!!

First free practices today, Johan-Boris Scheier has been touched by another driver during the session,... he well succeeds to realize the 3rd best time !

Qualifying session and Sprint race, are on the agenda of  tomorrow, Saturday.

Endurance race is planned for Sunday.

see you tomorrow,

Wonderful 4th position for Fabien Thuner !!

Another emotion day  !!!

Qualif 1 :

Qualifying session stopped by a red flag. after 2 laps, because of the crash from another team. ..

After 10 minutes, the qualifying session restart. But there is now an heavy rain. Nobody can be quicker ..

Dimitri had realised the 2nd time, Fabien is 6th, David, is 10th and Vito start from the 19th position.

Race 1 :

It is no more raining  but the track is still very wet. 

Slick or rain tires ? it is very difficult to make the choice. 

The 6 first drivers, (Dimitri and Fabien) are in slick tires, but David and Vito have the wet tires.

Unfortunately, .. Dimitri goes out in the first lap, he is in the gravelbed.

He will start at the latest position. But a few laps later, he receives the black flag. He couldn't start the race after being helped ..

The race continues for the other drivers :

Fabien Thuner realizes a wonderful race, as after his first points at Brno, he will finish at the 4th position.  3rd best lap time in race !

Wonderful 4th position for Fabien Thuner

David, has been pushed in the first lap,  he lost a lot of time and will finish in 9th position, and gets 2 points !

Vito, continues to learn the Megane, he is 13th. 

Well... there is another qualifying session and the Race 2 tomorrow..