FFSA FRANCE CHAMPIONSHIP MAY 22ND – OSTRICOURT – 3RD ROUND

DRIVERS STAND OUT IN THE FRENCH CHAMPIONSHIP

WITH MOORE AND PLA, AS WELL AS IN THE 100 CLASS WITH LANCASTER (ELITE) AND HARKEMA (ESPOIR), BOTH HITTING THE MARK IN RACE 1 AND 2.

The Ostricourt circuit hosted the 3rd round of the French Championship, among the most competitive and tough ones in Europe. Suffice it to say that in the “Elite” category - the equivalent of the FA at an international level - the champion’s title is contended for by such top drivers as Plowman, Renaudie and Kozlinski, just to mention a few. Many leading Birel drivers are running in France, too, with the aim of taking part in a very competitive programme next to their international engagements. However, the transalpine Championship has a strategic significance for manufacturers, as well, since France has always represented one of Europe’s leading markets. This background adds a considerable value to the great performances achieved by Birel drivers at Ostricourt. As far as the race results are concerned, Jon Lancaster held sway in the most important category (100 Elite) all through the weekend, reaping laurels both in Race 1 (Pre-Final) and in Race 2 (Final). The English driver stood on the podium with Louveau and Plowman in the Pre–Final, again with Plowman, and then Coutigne in the Final. With this fantastic double victory, Lancaster conquers the 2nd placing in the championship, outdistanced by leader Plowman just by 24 points. The Birel colours won a double also with Harkema in the category 100 Espoir (Ica); he ended the Pre-Final ahead of Vergne and Abasse, while in the Final he was followed by team-mate Dreezen and Tardieu. The championship is led by Abesse with 162 points, but Harkema follows just 11 points behind. Birel’s great day went on in the Junior class, too, where 6 out of the first 10 drivers to cross the finishing line in both races belonged to the Birel team. In the Pre-Final, Nigel Moore won ahead of Tambay and team-mates Da Silva, Pla and Jenkins. In the Final, instead, the Birel colours ruled the podium completely: Pla made it to the top, followed by Moore and Da Silva. Nigel Moore (Birel/Parilla) leads the championship results with 183 points, followed by Vanthoor (Birel/Tm) with 176 and Jenkins (Birel/Parilla) with 168 points. The only class where no Birel driver ended first was the 125cc, but Lecourt and Lavanant still made it to the podium with two excellent performances winning important points in the championship. The splendid results scored in France confirm the indications drawn from all the main national championships, where Birel chassis are continuously on the podium regardless of the engines and tyres used.