Turckheim: Régal honors his title

Lionel Régal, crowned with his new title of French mountain champion, presented himself in Turckheim without pressure. And all it took was one climb in the Rhone to ensure his victory. Author of a time that no one could have approached, he pushed back the competition. During the first climb, Régal beat his record, established in 2007, by 39 thousandths. Nicolas Schatz took second place almost five seconds behind, while Sébastien Petit could not fight with his usual rivals, his engine having suffered during practice. Stéphane Baudin, Thomas Alban and Benoit Bouche completed the top 5.

The second climb did not allow Lionel Régal to improve his time, due to the breakage of a universal joint nut on his car. Nicolas Schatz took the opportunity to set the scratch time for this second climb, almost two seconds ahead of Stéphane Baudin. In closed cars, Francis Dosières improved the time achieved by Nicolas Werver during the first climb. But the latter would regain his possession in the third and final climb of the race, at the wheel of his Porsche 996 GT Cup.

In open cars, Lionel Régal again had the best time, however he did not improve the time achieved on the first climb. The French champion thus put an end to a weekend where he once again dominated the competition with authority. Winner of his eighth race of the season, the driver from Lentilly could leave with the feeling of accomplishment. The drivers of the French championship still have an appointment to honor to conclude this 2009 season, this weekend in Limonest.