Excitement and spectacle in equal parts. The second round of the SEAT Leon Eurocup, hosted by British circuit Silverstone this weekend, delivered hefty doses of thrills and action to fans and followers of the international series. Finding optimal racing conditions in the UK, the SEAT Leon Eurocup competitors came to the British home of motorsport aiming to give the best of themselves around a fast layout, upon which most of the drivers found a comfortable rhythm. As is custom and with the first ten drivers on the grid setting off from reversed positions, the start of the second race was a fantastic and edge-of-your-seat way to kick off proceedings and push the protagonists of this second meeting of 2016 to the fore.
If yesterday saw Niels Langeveld (Baporo Motorsport) take a deserved victory, followed by Spaniard Mikel Azcona (PCR Sport) and Stian Paulsen (Stian Paulsen Racing) in second and third respectively, today it was Norwegian Stian Paulsen (Stian Paulsen Racing) who bossed the field from start to finish for his second triumph of the season and maintains a consistent podium streak in all the sprints disputed this term. His uncatchable pace meant that he was able to stretch away from the pack and forge a gap of 4.818 seconds over Lourenço Beirao Da Veiga (PCR Sport), who was busy in an intense fight with Briton Alex Morgan (Wolf Racing) until the last breath. Young Frenchwoman Lucile Cypriano (JSB Competition) set off from eleventh place and showcased her exceptional talent again through an impressive comeback to fourth spot.
Stian Paulsen (Stian Paulsen Racing) has consolidated his series lead with 84 points followed by Mikel Azcona (PCR Sport) with 70 and Niels Langeveld (Baporo Motorsport) who is third with 53 points. In the Ladies Trophy, Lucile Cyprinao is the undisputed pace-setter on 40 points.
After today’s race the competitors and set-up of the international series will head to the French circuit of Paul Ricard where the two races of the third meeting on the SEAT Leon Eurocup schedule will take place on June 4-5.
Stian Paulsen, Stian Paulsen Racing, 3rd in Race 2 of the 2016 Leon Eurocup: “I’m really happy with the result. I was consistent all the way through the race and for this I’m much more satisfied than I was yesterday. We suffered quite a lot in the session on Friday and this set our potential for the weekend but we also knew that the races would be something else. Today I pushed hard in the first five laps and then I set a limit to conserve my tyres and also the position. I really enjoyed it and I leave here with a great feeling.”
Lourenço Beirao Da Veiga, PCR Sport, 2nd in Race 2 of the 2016 SEAT Leon Eurocup: “It is great to come back to the podium after last year which was quite complicated for me because it cost a lot to be running at the front. This season things are very different and even though we can still improve in the timed sessions, the results have been much better. The race today was really tricky; I tried to make a good start and then maintain a steady rhythm. Around the halfway point Alex Morgan started to pressurise me, complicating things further but I was able to control my race and this second position brings us that little piece of glory.”
Alex Morgan, Wolf Racing, 3rd in Race 2 of the 2016 SEAT Leon Eurocup: “It was a really difficult race. I started from eighth position, which obviously carries some handicap and I made a good start. In the first laps, when I saw I hadn’t lost a position, I knew I could keep calm and focus on some steady times. I felt really comfortable with the Cup Racer and it meant I was able to push for second place right up until the end. To grab a podium at my home circuit is great and we will keep fighting to again be at the front as soon as possible.”
Jaime Puig, Director of SEAT Sport: “Every race of the SEAT Leon Eurocup is a spectacle. Today we really enjoyed the fights and changes of positions that we saw throughout the contest. Stian, who stays as leader and who has appeared on our podium with every outing, showed again what great form he is in. One of the best performances came from Lucile Cypriano who rallied back from that eleventh position to be fourth. Her youth and talent were again evident at Silverstone. We really enjoyed this one.”
Classification Race 2:
1. Stian Paulsen (#34), Stian Paulsen Racing; 24’46.729
2. Lourenço Beirao Da Veiga (#20), PCR Sport; +4.818
3. Alex Morgan (#5), Wolf Racing; + 5.149
4. Lucile Cypriano (#9), JSB Competition; +5.607
5. Facundo Della Motta (#44), Baporo Motorsport; +5.963
6. Mikel Azcona (#1), PCR Sport; +6.515
7. Pol Rosell (#13), Baporo Motorsport; +16.825
8. Maurits Sandberg (#99), Baporo Motorsport; +23.610
Non-classified:
Jimmy Antunes (#2), JSB Competition
Lucas Orrock (#4), ZEST Clealand
Julien Briche (#3), JSB Competition
Niels Langeveld (#10), Baporo Motorsport
Classification Race 1
1. Niels Langeveld (#10), Baporo Motorsport; 24’33.223
2. Mikel Azcona (#1), PCR Sport; +2.987
3. Stian Paulsen (#34), Stian Paulsen Racing; +9.618
4. Alex Morgan (#5), Wolf Racing; + 13.428
5. Lucile Cypriano (#9), JSB Competition; +14.384
6. Julien Briche (#3), JSB Competition; + 15.020
7. Lourenço Beirao Da Veiga (#20), PCR Sport; +23.213
8. Facundo Della Motta (#44), Baporo Motorsport; +24.188
9. Maurits Sandberg (#99), Baporo Motorsport; +32.013
10. Pol Rosell (#13), Baporo Motorsport; +33.006
11. Lucas Orrock (#4), ZEST Clealand; +1’22.052
Non-classified:
Jimmy Antunes (#2), JSB Competition
2016 SEAT Leon Eurocup standings:
1. Stian Paulsen (#34), Stian Paulsen Racing; 84 points
2. Mikel Azcona (#1), PCR Sport; 70 points
3. Niels Langeveld (#10), Baporo Motorsport; 53 points
4. Lucile Cypriano (#9), JSB Competition; 46 points
5. Alex Morgan (#5), Wolf Racing; 44 points
6. Lourenço Beirao Da Veiga (#20), PCR Sport; 36 points
7. Facundo Della Motta (#44), Baporo Motorsport; 34 points
8. Julien Briche (#3), JSB Competition; 27 points
9. Mauricio Hernandez (#17), PCR Sport; 17 points
10. Maurits Sandberg (#99), Baporo Motorsport; 11 points
11. Pol Rosell (#13), Baporo Motorsport; 7 points
12. Jimmy Antunes (#2), JSB Competition; 1 point
13. Amalia Vinyes (#13), Baporo Motorsport; 1 point
14. Nelson Lukes (#8), Kworx; 1 point
15. Lucas Orrock (#4), ZEST Clealand; 0 points
16. Marie Baus-Coppens (#21), JSB Competition; 0 points
