Barcelona, Spain, September 19th 2023 - Having enjoyed a prolonged summer break since the last meeting held in Dijon, the twenty-two Alpine Elf Europa Cup competitors were back in action this weekend in Barcelona, Spain, with a mix of excitement and pressure.
Indeed, this round was the penultimate racing weekend in the 2023 season of the Alpine Elf Europa Cup, meaning that the drivers needed to get their bearings very quickly if they were to score big points in Catalonia. Whilst five different drivers have claimed wins in the eight races contested before this weekend, three-time winner Lorens Lecertua – the man in form before the mid-season break – picked up where he left off in June! The Chazel Technologie Course team’s young Belgian driver claimed both pole positions and won both races, despite the rain and the decidedly tricky, changeable conditions. Results that now make him the favourite to pocket the €40,000 in prize money awarded to the overall winner in order to switch to GT4 racing next year.
Lecertua will nonetheless need to keep an eye on Enzo Geraci, his team-mate at Chazel Technologie Course, who kept his title ambitions alive by finishing as runner-up in race 1 before claiming third place in race 2. The pair’s impressive performances also meant that Chazel Technologie Course was crowned teams’ champion with one round still to go. It should also be noted that remaining podium spot was filled in both races by Tim Mérieux (Autosport GP), third in the first race before gaining a place to finish as runner-up in the weekend’s second contest. The other performance of the weekend was produced by Adrien Catelin (Code Racing Development), who sealed the Challenger title with one round of the championship left, notably finishing a very impressive fourth overall in race 2. Lastly, Laurent Richard (Herrero Racing) won both races in the Gentleman Drivers’ class, spicing up the title race somewhat.
Lorens Lecertua’s ever impressive form means that he heads into the final meeting at Circuit Paul Ricard (6-8 October) as the clear favourite to win the 2023 Alpine Elf Europa Cup. However, Enzo Geraci, his team-mate and also a former F4 driver, is not ready to relinquish his own hopes of glory. It’s all set for a thrilling climax to the season!
