Ultimate Cup Series / Dijon – Friday summary

It is on the Dijon-Prenois circuit that the Ultimate Cup Series competitors set down their bags this weekend, to compete in the second round of the season.

SINGLE-SEAT

With four victories at Le Castellet, Nicolas Cheers arrived with the firm intention of continuing his momentum. The CMR driver mastered the Burgundian slide perfectly to take pole position in 1:14.267, at the wheel of the Tatuus F3R entered by CMR, with only 0,437 seconds ahead of Jean-Baptiste Mela, competing in his first race at the wheel of a F3R.

Nicolas Prost faces a strong rival in the person of the Autosport GP driver, who was not left behind during the 16 laps of the race. The victory nevertheless went once again to the driver of the F3R n°12, a nice nod to history... Alain Prost indeed won for the very first time in Formula 1, in Dijon, 40 years ago!

Jean-Baptiste Mela was not unworthy and finished on the second step of the podium, ahead of Luis Sanjuan (Graff), at the end of an exciting fight.

GT SPRINT​

The first two of the four races in the GT Sprint field were won by Bernard Delhez. The pilot of the Renault RS 01 n°30 from AB Sport Auto had to fight to climb to the top of the podium.

Poleman of race 1, Marc Waechter (G2 Racing AG) completed 10 laps in the lead before giving in to Bernard Delhez. A red flag displayed following the immobilization of Vortex n°701, which lost a wheel, put an end to the debate and proclaimed the Belgian, winner of the general and the GT Class 3A category. If the Vortex of Karen Gaillard did not see the finish, the sister car No. 712 of Olivier Gomez won the GT Class 3B category.

The times were very tight in Q2, in view of race 2, and the clock turned to the advantage of Charles-Henri Samani, on behalf of the Mercedes-AMG GT3 n°83 from Racetivity. However, he was overtaken on the inside of the first turn by Bernard Delhez, then by Marc Waechter on the pit straight, a few laps later. Despite the latter's comeback at the end of the race, the Belgian from AB Sport Auto doubled the lead this Friday. Contact between the two Renaults cost Waechter the podium and valuable points.

Au pied du podium, Maxime Mainguy a également réalisé un doublé, aujourd’hui, dans la catégorie réservée aux Porsche GT3 Cup.

208 RACING CUP

The 208 Racing Cup field is by far the most extensive. The passage of some forty 208s through the Villeroy double-straight is also impressive and was somewhat eventful at the start of the first race.

Antoine Pretin (GPA Racing), second on the line, wasted no time in overtaking pole-sitter, Florian Briché (JSB Competition), before the Safety Car intervened. The debates resumed shortly afterwards. Florian Briché regained his due and will ultimately not be worried to win under the checkerboard after 25 minutes of racing. One GPA Racing driver can hide another since it was ultimately Alexandre Finkelstein who finished second, ahead of Antoine Pretin. Colin Boreau (Boreau Racing Team) and Joran Leneutre (JSB Competition) fiercely competed for victory in the Junior category.

Race 2 was also contested in the middle of the afternoon, whether at the front or within the peloton, from the first few meters. Antoine Blondeau took the lead in the first corner against Calvin Comte (Comte Racing Team). From then on, the JSB Competition driver maintained his course until the finish line, despite the persistent threat from Antoine Pretin. Joran Leneutre won in Junior thanks to his third place overall. 

PROTO LMP3/CN/EVO

Before competing in the three-hour race on Saturday, the Challenge Proto drivers chased the clock. The crew of the #320 Ligier JS P88 of Team Virage set the best average in 1:12.471, relegating the #08 Duqueine D21 of DB Autosport to a full second. 

Retained for the 8 Hours of Portimão, Mathias Beche leaves his seat to Philippe Cimadomo in the No. 13 Mirage Racing Ligier, alongside Emilien Carde.

ANS Motorsport placed its four Norma M20 FCs in the first four places in the CN category, following qualifying.