JB Dubourg retains his Andros e-Trophy title

With application of the counts (of the 10 results of each driver, only the 9 best are counted), JB Dubourg presented himself at Super Besse at the top of the Elite Pro general classification followed by Aurélien Panis at 1 point and Yann Ehrlacher at 2 points.
These tiny differences left no room for any form of calculation and all the actors in this beautiful mechanical drama had only victory in mind.

Dakar, Monte-Carlo, Andros… Sébastien Loeb shines on all surfaces © Andros/Bruno Bade

The first warning shot was fired during practice by Dubourg who took the best time ahead of Pierre-Louis Loubet, Yann Ehrlacher and Dorian Boccolacci. The big points, however, are to be taken in qualifying and Dubourg does it again by placing at the top of the timesheet in Q1 and Q2. We know that drivers often take the initiative of sacrificing one of the two sessions to save their tires, this double therefore clearly illustrates the desire for perfection which inhabits the driver of the Renault Zoe Glace of DA Racing. Behind him Yann Ehrlacher is floating and only loses 3 points on the reigning champion. Only third at the end of these timed sessions, Aurélien Panis seems to be stalling but is determined to play his chances until the checkered flag. The gaps are therefore tiny at the start of Super Pole and as a great champion accustomed to pressure, the double WTCR World Champion will put in a fantastic lap to pocket the 6 points for the best time at the wheel of his AS 01 Dupessey. Only fourth, Dubourg saw the Alsatian come back on his heels before the start of the Super Final!

Yann Ehrlacher imperial in Super Pole © Andros/Bruno Bade

Behind the regulars of the e-Andros Trophy, all eyes were on Sébastien Loeb who, as a great champion, had kept his commitment to come and rub shoulders with the big names in ice racing. The recent winner of the Monte Carlo Rally shone throughout the day to snatch his ticket for the Super Final and finish the round in a fantastic 5th place.

@SebastienLoeb takes his first laps on the magnificent icy Super Besse circuit 🤩
Now it's time to race! pic.twitter.com/WX5a35zcnT

— Andros Trophy (@TropheeAndros_) January 29, 2022

The dramatic intensity is at its height at the start of the final race of the season because for the first time in the history of the Andros e-Trophy, three drivers could still play for the coronation: Dubourg at 522 points, Ehrlacher at 521 and Panis at 518 still mathematically titratable at the end of the 6 laps of the race. Yann Ehrlacher broke away perfectly from the starting blocks to take the lead of the race at the first corner, and one loop later the fastest lap in the race put him in control of the championship. Each passage on the timing line then brought him closer to the title, Dubourg being unable to hang on to his mark, but in the fourth round a clap of thunder resounded on Super Besse with the awarding of the point for the best lap to Pierre-Louis Loubet, the teammate of Dubourg! Loubet had in fact let himself fall away from the peloton to benefit from a clean trajectory and take away this precious point from Ehrlacher. Despite his efforts, Yann Ehrlacher saw the performance of his tires weakening corner after corner and at the end of the 6 laps of the race he could only very sportingly recognize the superiority of his opponent and the perfect team strategy of DA Racing.

Ranking of the Super Besse Final:

This breathtaking finale closes an exceptional Andros e-Trophy season. Max Mamers, Claude Michy and Frédéric Gervoson can be proud of having been able to impose electric technology on ice, projecting the Andros Trophy into a new dimension full of promise.

Max Mamers and Frédéric Gervoson