Next stop the Nürburgring for unbeaten Milan 11.06.2011: Renault Clio Eurocup Nicolas Milan made the perfect start to the inaugural Eurocup Clio championship back in May, winning both races of the season opener at Spa-Francorchamps. The Frenchman, who drives for Milan Compétition

Renault Clio Eurocup




Nicolas Milan made the perfect start to the inaugural Eurocup Clio championship back in May, winning both races of the season opener at Spa-Francorchamps. The Frenchman, who drives for Milan Compétition, is unbeaten so far in 2011 and also boasts a 100 per cent record in the Clio Cup France. So Milan goes into the next round at the Nürburgring as the clear favourite, but with half the season still remaining and a place in the 2012 Eurocup Mégane Trophy at stake, his rivals will be looking to mount a late charge for the title.


Fresh from their exploits at Spa, the Eurocup Clio drivers head to yet another legendary circuit for the second stop on the championship calendar. More than 40 competitors are set to line up for what promises to be two spectacular races at the the Nürburgring – a track made famous by its incomparable 176-turn Nordschleife and gruelling endurance races.


This time around, the epic circuit will play host to two sprint races. This is sure to suit the pacy Milan, who started from pole in both of his victories at Spa. The rest of the field will need to be quick out of the blocks if they are to keep up with the French driver and reduce the deficit at the top of the leaderboard.


As things stand, Milan’s closest rival in the championship is team-mate Marc Guillot, and the pair will no doubt be at the heart of the action once again in Germany. Guillot finished second in both races at Spa and is the current leader of the Junior category. With Milan and Guillot first and second in the overall standings, Milan Compétition sits comfortably atop the Teams category. Also among the ranks is Thibaut Bossy, who has twice featured in the Belgian top seven.


Dutch pair Sebastien Bleekemolen (Team Bleekemolen) and Mike Verschuur (Equipe Verschuur) were the next best performers at Spa and they are also well placed to challenge Milan Compétition’s grip on the competition. Leading lady Sheila Verschuur (Equipe Verschuur), sister and team-mate of Mike Verschuur, will be hoping to continue her own good form after finishing in the points in both races at Spa.


The Eurocup Clio brings together the driving cream of the crop from national Clio Cup championships, and the majority of those competitors come from France and the Netherlands. There is also a talented Italian contingent, however, and Simone di Luca, Massimilano Pedala (both Rangoni Motorsport) and Giancarlo Lenzotti (Composit Motorsport) all showed strong potential with top-five finishes over the two races at Spa. The trio will be keen to chalk up as many points as possible in Germany to maintain their challenge at the top of the leaderboard.     


Two new drivers are set to make their Eurocup Clio debuts at the Nürburgring. They are Dutch driver Willy Welles (Madeno Racing) and France’s Guy Frey (Team Carmine), and they will join a large field featuring more than 40 cars. Large crowds are expected for the third World Series by Renault meeting, and early signs suggest they are in for a real treat.



- Blanca de Foronda -  photo Renault