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Another title for Albert Costa!

2009 will be remembered as Albert Costa's year! The Epsilon Euskadi team's Spanish driver became the second Formula Renault West European Cup Champion in Portugal after bagging the Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup title a few weeks earlier. He racked up a double winning both Saturday's and Sunday's races. The Epsilon Euskadi squad won the teams' championship while Arthur Pic took the Rookie award.

The first qualifying session was held in the rain, and the weekend got off to a bad start for Jean-Eric Vergne. He suffered engine failure and qualified at the back of the field. Hugo Valente (SG Formula) took advantage of the conditions to score his first pole position. Only problem was that he set his time under yellow flags so his best lap was cancelled, and pole finally went to his SG Formula team-mate, Miki Monras.

The second-last race of the season started in beautiful weather. Monras hit the front and immediately came under pressure from Albert Costa. Jean-Eric Vergne was already up into fourth place behind Benjamin Lariche (Pole Services). The latter was handed a 10-second penalty after the race for jumping the start. On lap 2, Vergne forced his way past his fellow-countryman to take third place.

He then pulled in the leading duo with Monras still in front of Costa. Hugo Valente got by Lariche and behind them Nathanael Berthon (Epsilon Euskadi) and Arthur Pic were at it hammer and tongs. Costa knew that Vergne, his main rival for the title, was a major threat, and on lap 7 he fought his way past Monras.

The Frenchman realised that he had no choice but to go for bust, and on lap 12 he too passed the SG Formula driver. Then on the final lap, it all went wrong for Vergne who was slowed by a fuel pump problem and Monras retook second place. It was all over bar the shouting! Costa took the chequered flag to score his sixth victory of the season, and followed in the footsteps of Daniel Ricciardo, the first winner of the Formula Renault 2.0 West European Cup, to bag his second title in a few weeks. "It's fantastic," laughed the delighted Spaniard. "But it's not yet the moment to celebrate. I want to win again tomorrow to finish the season on a high note!"

The young 19-year-old racer from Barcelona took the last pole position of the 2009 championship the next morning ahead of Vergne and Arthur Pic. Costa made a perfect start and went on to score his seventh win in the West European Cup and his twelfth of the season in Formula Renault 2.0. It was an ideal finish to the year, and in 2010 he will race in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series - still with Epsilon Euskadi.

Behind, the race was a pretty hectic one. Vergne fluffed his start and Monras shot past him. The Frenchman tried to retake second immediately, but he hit the kerb losing some of his car's aerodynamic elements and rejoined in last place. Monras held on to second followed by Arthur Pic and Berthon, and that was the order at the chequered flag. Behind them there was a no-holds-barred battle between Lariche, Valente, Miguel Otegui, Carlos Munoz and Vergne. Otegui finished fifth and Vergne eighth after Lariche and Valente collided and Munoz spun.

Thanks to this result Epsilon Euskadi won the teams' championship, and 2009 finished with a series of doughnuts by all the drivers in the Formula Renault 2.0 West European Cup. Next season sees the arrival of the new Formula Renault 2.0 single-seater, but the current crop of Formula Renault 2.0 WECs will still race in the F.R 2.0 Challenge.

Jean-Eric Vergne's revenge puts him back in the title hunt

Jean-Eric Vergne (SG Formula), who was beaten by Albert Costa (Epsilon Euskadi) in the French round, turned the tables on his Spanish rival when the Formula Renault 2.0 West European Cup was held on Costa's home turf. The Frenchman won both races on the Valencia circuit closing the gap to Costa to 11 points. Nathanael Berthon (Epsilon Euskadi) wrapped up the French title in the FFSA French Formula Renault 2.0 Championship, which will also give him a test in Formula Renault 3.5.

The first qualifying session was a hotly-disputed one. Jean-Eric Vergne set pole on the Valencia circuit on his last flyer. It was his first pole position since the opening round of the season at Nogaro.

Vergne and Albert Costa on the front row did not make the best of starts, and the Spaniard was passed by his team-mate, Nathanael Berthon. Miki Monras (SG Formula), who was sixth on the grid, went straight on and ended up in the gravel trap with a blocked accelerator. He managed to restart but in last place.

Up front, Vergne dialed in a succession of quick laps and left Berthon behind. The latter was having his work cut out to fend off Costa. On lap 5, Berthon, made a mistake and the Epsilon Euskadi driver snatched second place. He went pedal to the metal to catch the Frenchman setting the fastest lap in the process, but Vergne was too far in front. He had not won in the Formula Renault 2.0 West European Cup since Barcelona; he made no mistakes and scored his fourth victory of the season. The end of the race was enlivened by Monras's comeback. He got as high as eighth and then found himself stuck behind Benjamin Lariche (Lariche Pole Services). After the race, the latter was given a penalty for changing trajectories too often to keep Monras behind, handing seventh place to the Spaniard.

Berhon's third place was good enough to give him the national title in the FFSA Formula Renault 2.0 Championship. The Pau round in which Vergne had scored only 6 points while Berthon racked up thirty-two proved to be the turning point in the French Championship.

On Sunday morning, Vergne continued his winning ways and was the quickest in qualifying from Costa. When the lights went out he shot to the front, while the Epilson Euskadi driver had to fight off a fast-starting Monras. Albert managed to keep his fellow countryman at bay and came round in second place at the end of the first lap hotly pursued by Monras and Berthon who had got the better of Arthur Pic (SG Formula).

Vergne followed the same strategy as the previous day and banged in a succession of quick laps to open up a gap. Costa held on initially and then began to fall back. Monras and Berthon were a little further behind. Pic in fifth place led a scrapping group of pursuers with Miguel Otegui (Epsilon Euskadi) on his gearbox. Carlos Munoz (Epsilon Euskadi) snatched seventh from Hugo Valente (SG Formula) with a daring overtaking manouevre. Marcelo Conchado (Amiter Galuppo) went out with an engine problem and Lariche also retired with broken suspension.

Vergne went on to score his second victory of the weekend in the hot Valencia sun. With 2 pole positions, 2 victories and 1 fastest lap, the Frenchman bagged a big haul of points and closed the gap to Costa, who again came second, to eleven. Miki Monras in third place completed the podium.

Berthon's maiden win - Costa scores number five!

Nathanael Berthon (Epsilon Euskadi) was third in Pau, second at Magny-Cours and he went one better on the Spa-Francorchamps circuit scoring his maiden victory! His team-mate, Spaniard Albert Costa, won the second round giving him his fifth victory of the season and consolidating his position as leader of the Formula Renault 2.0 West European Cup.

With only a single qualifying session programmed, the two best times of each driver were used to decide the grids for the two races. Miki Monras (SG Formula) ruined his chances by going off in the Les Combes after only five minutes. Albert Costa had no problems setting the two pole positions. The front rows were identical for both races with Costa and Berthon on number one and Carlos Munoz (Epsilon Euskadi) and Jean-Eric Vergne (SG Formula) on row two.

The first race on Friday afternoon began under grey skies in cold weather. Costa messed up his start completely and was passed by the whole field. Berthon took the lead from Munoz and Vergne. Ramez Azzam (SG Formula) on the third row also made a very bad getaway.

Vergne passed Munoz in Les Combes to take second place. A lap later, Julien Abelli (SG Formula) did the same in the same place. An all-fired up Costa began his fight back passing Azzam, Monras and then Miguel Otegui (Epsilon Euskadi).

On lap 3, Munoz bent the nose of his car trying to pass Abelli at La Source hairpin and retired shortly afterwards. The order was: Berthon, Vergne, Abelli and Costa who soon began to monster Abelli. The Spa-Francorchamps circuit is one that really sorts out the men from the boys as Arthur Pic, Hugo Valente and Azzam found to their cost.

The no-holds-barred battle between Abelli and Costa for third finished in tears when they collided at the Bus Stop chicane. Abelli managed to restart by cutting the chicane, which led to a drive-through penalty. Behind Berthon and Vergne, Monras finished on the third step of the podium and the top 5 were rounded out by Otegui and Benjamin Lariche (Pole Services).

The weather was still bad on Saturday at midday when the start of the second round was given as a curtain raiser to the Spa 12 Hours (BTCS). The Swiss Formula Renault 2.0 Championship drivers joined the 2.0 West European Cup for this race giving a full grid of 24 cars.

This time Costa made no mistake when the lights went green and shot to the front from Berthon, Munoz, Vergne, Azzam and Abelli. Despite a good start Lariche hit the tyres in Fagnes and had to pit to have the nose changed. Berthon was all fevered up by his first win and did not let Costa make the break.

There was an intense battle going on behind the leaders between Otegui, Monras, Abelli and Valente. On lap 7, Otegui's gearbox broke letting Abelli into sixth; he was passed by Monras on lap 9. Next time round Munoz's car's suspension broke letting Vergne into third, and Monras snatched fourth from Azzam at the same moment.

Berthon tried to get past Costa in the Bus Stop chicane just before the finish. The Spaniard cut the chicane and was given a warning, but hung on to the lead until the chequered flag.

In the overall classification, Vergne closed the gap to Costa slightly but he is now under extreme pressure from Berthon. Abelli was the main loser at Spa and fell from third to fifth spot overall in the championship ratings.  

Albert Costa head and shoulders above his rivals! 

Albert Costa (Epsilon Euskadi) dominated the streets of Pau leaving his rivals no chance. The Spaniard set two poles and scored two victories, his first two in the Formula Renault 2.0 West European Cup. Just a stone's throw away from the Basque country, the Epsilon Euskadi team racked up two triples, which have left the championship wide open.

Albert Costa tamed the Pau circuit very quickly and dominated qualifying. The Spaniard lapped in 1m 14.798s, being the only driver to break the 1m 15s barrier. By setting the second-quickest time he took pole for the second race as well. Second was bitterly disputed by Julien Abelli (SG Drivers Project), Nathanael Berthon, Arthur Pic (SG Formula) and Carlos Munoz (Epsilon Euskadi) who shone by besting his rivals! He shared the front row with Costa in both races over the weekend. Jean-Eric Vergne, who had a shunt in free practice, was unable to fight his corner due to electrical problems. He ended up in thirteenth place for both rounds.

Costa made a perfect start from pole and took the lead from his team-mates Munoz and Berthon who had taken advantage of Pic fluffing his getaway. The SG driver found himself in fourth place being monstered by Abelli. The cars tagged each other and Pic kissed the guardrail ruining his race.

Up front, Costa drew away from Munoz and Berthon who had his hands full fighting off Abelli, Miki Monras and Luciano Bacheta (Epsilon Sport). Vergne began his comeback from his thirteenth place on the grid. He caught Kevin Breysse (SG Drivers Project) and Hugo Valante (SG Formula) battling for eighth place. Vergne took advanatge of a mistake by Breysse at the Lycee hairpin to split the two drivers. But a lap later his car suddenly ground to a halt, and he retired at the start of the straight bringing out the safety car. The restart saw no changes and Costa won from his team-mates Munoz and Berthon.

On Sunday, Costa made another perfect start and shot into the lead from Munoz and Berthon. The Frenchman did all he could to fight off the attacks of Abelli who was determined to break the Epsilon Euskadi cars' stranglehold on the first three places. Bacheta in fifth spot was under threat from Pic and Monras. On lap 4, Monras got past Pic for sixth place on the inside at the station.

While Costa and Munoz pulled away Berthon was holding up Abelli, Bacheta, Monras and Pic. At half-distance Benjamin Lariche (Pole Services) hit the guardrail after Foch bringing out the safety car. The race restarted in the same order. Costa and Munoz pulled away while Berthon had to cope with Abelli who was crawling all over him. The SG Project driver was looking for the gap and although Julien was quicker than Berthon he was unable to find a way past. And that was how they finished, with Costa winning again from Munoz, Berthon and Abelli.

Costa's first time out in Pau was crowned by two victories, and for Epsilon Euskadi its debut in the city of King Henri IV was rewarded by two triples. "The two races were fantastic," exulted a delighted Costa. "We've worked hard for this result and it puts us right back in the title chase. There's nothing more exciting than fighting for the championship. We want to win the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 and the Formula Renault 2.0 West European Cup. We'll do everything we can to achieve this aim." Thanks to his perfect weekend, Costa leaves Pau leading the Formula Renault 2.0 West European Cup with three points in hand over Jean-Eric Vergne.

Costa's team-mates shared his delight. " I needed those podiums for my confidence," smiled Munoz. "In each of the two races I paid attention to make sure I didn't make any mistakes, and above all not to collide with Albert. It's great to finish on the podium twice!" Berthon who scored a brace of third places drove his heart out over the weekend. He was the highest-placed Frenchman on two occasions giving him the lead in the FFSA Formula Renault 2.0 Championship

Vergne racks up his third win, Abelli his first!

In Barcelona, Jean-Eric Vergne consolidated his first place in the Formula Renault 2.0 WEC by winning the first race and finishing second in Race 2. He lost for the first time of the season to his team-mate Julien Abelli (SG Driver’s Project).        

Qualifying took place in the wet on Saturday evening. Jean-Eric Vergne dominated most of the session, but conditions improved towards the end. Arthur Pic (SG Formula) took advantage of this to score his first pole of the season ahead of Julien Abelli and Vergne. As the grid for the second race was established according to the second-best time of each driver, Abelli was on pole ahead of his team-mates led by Vergne and Pic.

On a sunny Sunday morning, Pic used his pole to perfection and took the lead from Vergne, Abelli and Hugo Valente (SG Formula). Vergne almost immediately shot past Pic to take first place. In the meantime, Albert Costa (Epsilon Euskadi) was fighting his way up from seventh place and after only 2 laps he was third! He sliced past Pic at the end of the pit straight and took second.

Behind, Miki Monras, Abelli, Nathanaël Berthon (Epsilon Euskadi) and Hugo Valente were battling for fourth place. Berthon overtook his rivals and latched onto Monras’s gearbox. The closing laps were pretty hectic. Costa was right up with the leader, while Pic in third place had to fend off the attacks of Monras and Berthon. Costa suddenly slowed towards the end, but just managed to hold on to his second place.

With 3 victories in 3 races counting for the Formula Renault 2.0 WEC Vergne was a happy man: “I made a good start but Albert (Costa) was all over me. I was a bit lucky today.” Second-placed Costa nearly lost everything at the end of the race: “I really pushed very hard to get from seventh to second. I was catching the leader and I reckon I had a good chance of winning, but I ran into a fuel feed problem at the very end of the race.” Pic in third had his first taste of the rostrum: “Jean-Eric was quicker at the start and I didn’t try to hold him back. I made a couple of small mistakes that allowed Monras and Berthon to catch me. I’m happy, though: it’s very positive to finish on the rostrum so early in the season.”

Late on Sunday afternoon, Abelli took full advantage of his pole to shoot into the lead from Vergne, Monras and Pic. He fought off Vergne’s attacks and their battle allowed Monras, Pic and Costa - up from ninth to fifth - to pull in the leading duo. The 5 cars were running nose-to-tail.

Costa then got past Pic to take fourth and he attacked Monras. His first attempt failed and the Spaniard damaged his car’s front wing in the incident. This handicapped him and he was unable to prevent Pic, Berthon and Benjamin Lariche from overtaking him.

The outcome of the battle for victory between Abelli, Vergne and Monras remained indecisive until the chequered flag, but Abelli held on to take his first victory in the Formula Renault 2.0 West European Cup. “I made a good start but after that the race got pretty complicated. I wasn’t as quick as Jean-Eric, so it was a question of not making any mistakes and keeping him behind as cleanly as possible.”
With a first and a second place, Vergne holds a good lead in the Formula Renault 2.0 West European Cup. “Julien didn’t make any mistakes, so I couldn’t get past him. When you can’t win it’s better to take the points for second place.” Vergne, though, had better look out for his team-mates, and Miki Monras in particular, who is firmly decided to contest his leadership. “I’ve finished on the rostrum in Eurocup FR 2.0 and in FR 2.0 WEC so it’s been a good day on my home turf in Barcelona. I have to start winning races to close the gap to Jean-Eric. It won’t be long now!”

Clean sweep for Vergne!

Jean-Eric Vergne (SG Formula) got his season off to the best possible start with 2 pole positions and 2 victories on the Nogaro circuit. The reigning French champion confirmed his status as favourite for the 2009 Formula Renault 2.0 WEC title.     

The track was completely soaked on Saturday evening when the drivers came out for the first qualifying session. SG Formula dominated the Epsilon Euskadi and Pole Service drivers in these conditions. The team from La Rochelle had 6 cars on the first 3 rows led by Jean-Eric Verge followed by Miki Monras, Hugo Valente, Dominic Storey, Ramez Azzam and Arthur Pic. Benjamin Lariche (Pole Services) and Albert Costa (Epsilon Euskadi) were pushed back to the fourth row.

On Sunday afternoon, the track was still damp for the first race. Vergne took full advantage of his pole position and shot to the front from Monras, Valente, Storey, Azzam and Costa who overtook Pic. The first lap proved fatal for Bastien Borget (Pole Services) who retired. Vergne pushed really hard in the opening laps to make the break pulling out a second per lap. Just before half distance Storey retired (accident) and on lap 12 (out of 17) Azzam got the better of Valente who made a mistake in the Caupenne corners. The positions were as follows: Verge, Monras, Azzam, Costa, Pic, Nethanaël, Berthon (Epsilon Euskadi), Julien Abelli (SG Formula), Kevin Bresse (SG Formula) and Benjamin Lariche (Pole Services). The final twist came on the last lap when Pic found a way past Costa to give SG Formula the first 4 places!

“My main aim was to make a good start as I knew I had the speed to open up a gap,” explained Vergne. “It all went off very well and I even tried some new lines in the race!” Spaniard Miki Monras who came second acknowledged that his team-mate was quicker. “I also made a good start but not good enough to worry Jean-Eric. He made the break in the opening laps and I wasn’t able to catch him. We have almost the same set-up so I’ve still got to make some more progress.” Azzam from the Arab Emirates was on the Formula Renault 2.0 WEC rostrum for the first time after a steady race. “I made an effort not to make any mistakes today unlike the two drivers who went off in front of me. After a pretty good qualifying session it’s great to achieve such a result!”

On Monday morning, the rain had stopped and the sun made a timid appearance when the drivers began the second qualifying session. This time the battle for pole was very close and Vergne was only 36/100s quicker than Costa. After scrutineering Costa’s car was found to have illegal suspension and he was sent to the back of the field.

The second race started in spring like conditions. When the lights went out Verge took the lead with his team-mates Abelli, Monras and Pic on his gearbox. The latter was handed a drive-through penalty for having cut the white line marking the pits during the grid procedure. He handed his place to Kevin Breysse but scored the point for the fastest lap in the race.

While this was going on Costa was putting on a marvellous display of aggressive driving. He was up into eighth place after only 4 laps passing Borget, Lariche, Storey and Breysse. He got up to fourth on lap 15 (out of 18) and was all over Monras last time round. The latter managed to fend off his fellow countryman. “Luckily, there weren’t another couple of laps to go as Albert was bloody quick. I’m happy to be on the rostrum twice this weekend: it’s a good start.”

Vergne won again and had every reason to be satisfied with his weekend. “It’s all gone off very well this weekend, and these two victories have really boosted my confidence. Next week we’ll be tackling the Eurocup in Barcelona and I’m determined to fight for the title.”