Dayraut takes control

Jean-Philippe Dayraut, despite his 20 kg of ballast on board due to his title won last winter, did not seem handicapped during this first day of the Andros Trophy, in Val Thorens. The Haut-Garonnais, second in the first qualifying round, then achieved the best time in the second round, taking the lead in the standings after the two rounds. Most of the points being scored during this phase, it was interesting to observe the ranking before the finals of the evening in the Savoyard resort.

In first position, Jean-Philippe Dayraut (Skoda Fabia) took 60 points, ahead of Jean-Baptiste Dubourg (Renault Clio III, 57 points), Benjamin Rivière (Fiat Stilo, 55), Bertrand Balas (Toyota Auris, 54), Alain Prost (Dacia Duster, 53), Olivier Panis (Skoda Fabia, 52), Franck Lagorce (Renault Clio III, 51)? But everything remained open before the finals of this first day of competition. In order to allow better fluidity of the races, the field is in fact divided into four finals.

During the first Elite final, Serge Lubrano (Fiat Stilo) got the better of Olivier Pernaut (BMW Series 1) and won the 12 points for victory at the end of the 10 laps. During the second Elite final, it was Hervé ?Knapick? (BMW Series 1) who dominates the debates, while Patrick Desmonnet (Fiat Stilo) manages to beat Jean-Pierre Pernaut (BMW Series 1) for second place.

To take the lead in the general classification, Jean-Philippe Dayraut and Jean-Baptiste Dubourg fought a long-distance duel in the two Elite Sup finals. The last city got the best start in its final, ahead of the Toyota Auris of Bertrand Balas and Didier Thoral. The Renault driver flew to victory but, on the eighth lap, victim of a mechanical problem, he spun and could not resist the return of the two Auris. Balas won ahead of Thoral, while Dubourg had to settle for third place and Olivier Panis (Skoda Fabia) was unable to finish the race.

During the second final, Jean-Philippe Dayraut started perfectly but the race was interrupted by a red flag. Alain Prost (Dacia Duster), pushed into a wall of snow by Franck Lagorce (Renault Clio III), is violently hit by Grégoire Demoustier (Skoda Fabia), who can do nothing to avoid the ?Professor?. After a new start, Jean-Philippe Dayraut managed to overpower Franck Lagorce and flew to a first victory during this second season with Skoda.

With the best time in the qualifying heats and victory in his final, Jean-Philippe Dayraut, despite his 20 kg of ballast, therefore takes control of the Andros Trophy, with a maximum of 80 points. As a result of this good performance, the Haut-Garonnais is taking on board 60 kg of additional ballast and will therefore be loaded with 80 kg this Sunday for the second day of competition in Val Thorens.