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Eurocup Formula
Renault 2.0
Albert Costa perseveres to set fastest time
The Eurocup Formula Reanult 2.0 field are continuing work on their
preparations for the 2009 season. Just days after the first test
sessions held in Barcelona, they assembled in Le Mans for two more days
of collective testing. Albert Costa (Epsilon Euskadi) confirmed his
speed and motivation this season with the fastest time.
Rainy conditions were waiting in Le Mans for the thirty drivers taking
part in Collective Testing. To make the traffic out on track flow more
smoothly, the drivers were divided into three separate groups. Jean-Eric
Vergne (SG Formula) took advantage of the rainy conditions on Tuesday
morning to get the upper hand over his rivals Albert Costa, Arthur Pic (SG
Formula) and Nigel Melker (MP Motorsport).
The conditions then improved slightly. Miki Monras (SG Formula) duly set
a fastest lap in 1'53.258. Albert Costa then improved on that time at
the close of the morning session. With a lap in 1'51.430, he was faster
than Jean-Eric Vergne, Antonio Felix da Costa (Motopark Academy) and
Adrian Quaife-Hobbs (Motopark Academy).
The track then seemed to dry out at the start of the afternoon. Luciano
Bacheta (Epsilon Sport) made a significant improvement over the fastest
time with a lap in 1'47''078. The last group of drivers to come out on
track were able to don their slicks. Albert Costa made the most of the
opportunity. At the end of day one, he thus found himself at the top of
the standings, with a lap in 1'37''859. The Spaniard was once again
better than his rival Jean-Eric Vergne. But there never seems to be much
to separate the two men. "The conditions were difficult today" explains
Vergne. "At the end of day, to set the fastest time, you had to try and
wait until the last possible moment to switch to slicks. There really
wasn't much in it. But I am more motivated than ever to do well this
season. Here, as in Barcelona, it has been clear that there is not much
between Albert Costa and myself. We're both obvious both candidates for
the title." Kevin Magnussen (Motopark Academy) took the third fastest
time ahead of Genis Olive (Jenzer Motorsport) and Nigel Melker.
The conditions turned out to be better on Wednesday, with all the
drivers opting for slicks right from the off. Albert Costa, clearly the
driver in form, once again showed what he was capable of by setting the
fastest time for his group with a lap in 1'35''654 ahead of Luciano
Bacheta and Nico Muller (Jenzer Motorsport). In the next group, only
Miki Monras was able to do better with time of 1'35''342.
Albert Costa was then back in style at the close of the morning session.
Having donned fresh rubber, the Barcelona man just kept on getting
better. With a lap in 1'34''842, then 1'34''773, he was the first driver
to go faster than 1'35. Arthur Pic was the one putting up most
resistance, hanging on in there in second place, ahead of Adrian Quaife-Hobbs
and Kevin Magnussen.
Though the drivers spent most of the afternoon getting some long runs
in, the final minutes of the session proved to be decisive. Albert Costa
and Adrian Quaife-Hobbs ended up fighting it out for top spot. In the
end, it was Costa who had the final word with a lap in 1'34''550,
holding off the impending threat from Motopark Academy, with Adrian
Quaife-Hobbs ahead of Kevin Magnussen and Antonio Felix da Costa. "I
feel really good in this single-seater and I'm brimming with confidence,
which is really helping me to push the car to the limit", explains
Albert Costa. "It's important to keep yourself at the top of the timing
screens on a regular basis. The next collective testing sessions will be
our last chance to measure ourselves against the rest of the field
before the season gets underway for real. But I'm really keen to get
back to Barcelona, for the first race of the season."
The next Eurocup Formula Reanult 2.0 test will be held at Spa-Francorchamps
on March 23-24.
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