- The opening round of the Alpine Elf Cup Series season saw Juniors Charles Roussanne (VPS Racing) and Léo Jousset (Race Cars Consulting) share the spoils at Circuit Paul Armagnac in Nogaro.
- In his Alpine A110 Cup debut, race winner Charles Roussanne leaves the Gers at the top of the general classification ahead of Challenger Florian Coruble (Chazel Technologie Course Junior) heading to Portimão.
- The Easter Cup meeting also saw the first success in the French FFSA GT Championship for the Alpine A110 GT4 driven by Lorens Lecertua and Matéo Herrero, two Alpine Elf Cup Series graduates.
Twenty-two drivers from across the motor racing spectrum were on hand to launch season seven of the Alpine Elf Cup Series at the Circuit Paul Armagnac in Nogaro for the Easter Cup, where over 34,000 spectators were in attendance throughout the weekend.
RACE 1: VICTORIOUS DEBUT FOR ROUSSANNE
Double winner of the 2023 season-ending round, Léo Jousset picked up where he left off in free practice, dominating both sessions on the recently resurfaced and faster Gers circuit. However, qualifying turned in favour of teammate Pierre Sancinéna (Race Cars Consulting).
Conditions changed dramatically for race one of the season on Sunday evening. Pierre Sancinéna held off Charles Roussanne on a damp track to retain the lead on the first lap. Charles Roussanne was incisive on his maiden race at the wheel of the A110 Cup and took the lead from Pierre Sancinéna on lap three.
The new leader quickly pulled away from his pursuer, who was now under attack from Thibaut Bossy (Herrero Racing). Behind him, the field came to life under the impetus of another Alpine newcomer, Florian Coruble. After winning his duel with Lukas Papin (Schumacher CLRT), the French driver found an opening on Léo Jousset before overtaking Enzo Geraci (Chazel Technologie Course Junior) and Thibaut Bossy in quick succession.
Charles Roussanne went on to take a comfortable win, 16 seconds ahead of Challenger Florian Coruble, who overtook Pierre Sancinéna with two laps to go. Thibaut Bossy, Enzo Geraci, Léo Jousset and Mattéo Nomblot (Chazel Technologie Course Junior) battled right up to the chequered flag, finishing in that order in a compact group. Sami Dhahri (VPS Racing) and Clément Berlié (VPS Racing) moved up in the waning minutes, followed by Lukas Papin, who rounded out the top ten. Meanwhile, Alain Jacono (Chazel Technologie Course) won the Gentlemen category.
RACE 2: JOUSSET RESISTS
On Monday, the action resumed on a track soaked by overnight showers. Florian Coruble confirmed his fine predispositions in tricky conditions to claim his first pole position ahead of Thibaut Bossy and Charles Roussanne. Léo Jousset was fourth ahead of Alain Jacono, who scored his best qualifying result.
The drivers put on their Michelin slick tyres for the race a few hours later. Thibaut Bossy quickly reacted when the lights turned green and jumped in the lead. Trailing at the start, Florian Coruble battled hard with Léo Jousset and Charles Roussanne to hold on to second place before a safety car period to recover the car of Pierre Macchi (Schumacher CLRT).
Thibaut Bossy and Léo Jousset pulled away from their rivals at the restart, while Charles Roussanne snatched third place from Florian Coruble. The hierarchy changed again when Thibaut Bossy put a wheel in the grass on lap six and dropped to 16th place. Léo Jousset, the new leader, found his mirrors full of Charles Roussanne and Florian Coruble. The chase group was also busy, with Sami Dhahri, Pierre Sancinéna and Lukas Papin overtaking Mattéo Nomblot before he retired.
Despite repeated attacks from his rivals, Léo Jousset claimed his first win of the season and the third of his Alpine Elf Cup Series career. He was joined on the podium by Charles Roussanne and Challenger Florian Coruble. Fourth at the chequered flag, Sami Dhahri was penalised five seconds for track limits. Lukas Papin who started 14th, was promoted to fourth ahead of teammate Gaspard Simon (Schumacher CLRT), who overtook Pierre Sancinéna on the penultimate lap. Enzo Geraci also surprised his rival Tom Verdier (Chazel Technologie Course Junior) to snatch seventh place as Sandro Perissoutti (Code Racing Development) and Sami Dhahri looked on. Paul Paranthoen (Code Racing Development) inherited victory in the Gentlemen category after Frédéric de Brabant (Chazel Technologie Course) received a ten-second penalty for their contact earlier in the race.
Junior Charles Roussanne is the early leader in the general classification ahead of Challenger Florian Coruble and Léo Jousset. Alain Jacono and Paul Paranthoen lead in the Gentlemen category, whereas Race Cars Consulting leads VPS Racing and Chazel Technologie Course Junior in the teams’ classification.
The Nogaro Easter Cup was also the scene of the maiden victory of the Alpine A110 GT4 driven by reigning Alpine Elf Cup Series title-winner Lorens Lecertua and Matéo Herrero. The Franco-Belgian duo won their first race in the French FFSA GT Championship, taking the spoils in the Silver Cup at the end of a race full of challenges due to the changing conditions.
The Alpine Elf Cup Series competitors now focus on round two of the calendar at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimão (25-28 April).
CLASSIFICATIONS
Race 1
1. Charles Roussanne (VPS Racing)
2. Florian Coruble (Chazel Technologie Course Junior) +16.459s
3. Pierre Sancinéna (Race Cars Consulting) +20.831s
4. Thibaut Bossy (Herrero Racing) +24.910s
5. Enzo Geraci (Chazel Technologie Course Junior) +15.360s
Pole position: Pierre Sancinéna (Race Cars Consulting) – 1m30.782s
Fastest lap: Charles Roussanne (VPS Racing) – 1m41.506s
Race 2
1. Léo Jousset (Race Cars Consulting)
2. Charles Roussanne (VPS Racing) +1.200s
3. Florian Coruble (Chazel Technologie Course Junior) +2.595s
4. Lukas Papin (Schumacher CLRT) +8.290s
5. Gaspard Simon (Schumacher CLRT) +8.930s
Pole position: Florian Coruble (Chazel Technologie Course Junior) – 1m40.240s
Fastest lap: Charles Roussanne (VPS Racing) – 1m32.355s
General classification
1. Charles Roussanne – 37 points
2. Florian Coruble – 28 points
3. Léo Jousset – 26 points
4. Pierre Sancinéna – 19. points
5. Enzo Geraci – 13 points
