Lionel Régal wins at the wire

Lionel Régal, five-time French Mountain Champion, found a tough opponent in Nicolas Schatz. This season, the 2008 Espoir Echappement is determined to stand in the way of the Lyonnais, who will have to work extra hard to win a sixth consecutive title.

During the first climb, the driver of the Lola T94/50 achieved the best time on the Abreschviller route? St Quirin, in 48??806 and puts the reigning French Champion under pressure. During the second climb, Nicolas Schatz improved his time to 48??624. But Lionel Régal too, and ahead of his young rival in 48??484. However, the best time is attributed to Sébastien Petit, who joins the fight, in 48??463.

Everything therefore comes down to the last climb. The three leading drivers are up to the challenge and all improve their personal bests. Sébastien Petit, in 48??413, achieved his best time there, but that was not enough to give him victory. Lionel Régal has resources and, at the wheel of his F3000 Nippon, beat last year?s winner in 48??144. Nicolas Schatz then took out a set of new tires and beat his best time but, in 48??157, he failed thirteen thousandths behind the French Champion.

In proto sport, Cyrille Frantz won after dominating the first two climbs. In the final passage, Alain Castellana significantly improved Cyrille Frantz's time but the latter dealt the final blow with a new best time. In closed cars, it was Nicolas Werver who imposed his Porsche 997 GT3 Cup, ahead of Anthony Cosson and Francis Dosières.