SR2 PREVIEW
If there is lots of expectation over the SR1 outcome then the SR2 title battle is set to reach fever pitch with six drivers separated by just ten points. Tying for the lead at the top of the table is the Lucchini pairing of Mirko Savoldi and Piergiuseppe Peroni and the Team Jota duo of John Stack and Sam Hignett. With twenty points for a victory there could be a winner takes all scenario at the end of Sunday's race and the British pairing, who are complete novices compared to their Italian rivals, have been the revelation of the 2002 campaign so far. With matchless consistency and 100% reliability, their Pilbeam Nissan has crept up on the rails and is now gunning for the 3-litre title at their first attempt.
Both Sam and John have experience of the arduous 4.329 mile track after competing in both the 24-hour race and the Renault Clio Eurocup event. 23 year old Sam Hignett has been the undoubted rookie of the year this season and the Kent based driver is very motivated to take the challenge to the Lucchini's. "I have always gone well at Spa and I think it will suit the Pilbeam very well," said Sam. "We have gained in confidence race by race and Spa will hopefully bring another great performance from the whole team.
Lucchini Engineering return to the venue that saw their memorable outright win in the atrocious conditions two years ago when Filippo Francioni and Salvatore Ronca shocked everyone by beating the SR1 cars. Now, both of Giorgio Lucchini's chassis are gunning for a tilt at the championship as Gianni Collini and Fabio Mancini wait in the wings just ten points adrift of their team mates (Savoldi and Peroni) and the Jota pairing that tie at the top of the table.
"It is going to be pretty exciting," concluded Gianni Collini who is aiming to add to his win at Brno earlier in the season. "Obviously it is important for us to win at Spa and overcome the disappointment of retirements in the last two races but the team will be flat out to try and bring the title back to Italy."
Getting among the title protagonists is likely to be the Lola B2K/40 of the Stanley Dickens led SportsRacing Team Sweden outfit. The Scandinavians have by their own high standards had a troubled year and some rare chinks in their usually impeccable reliability have started to show after retirements in the last two races. For Spa, current Nordic F3000 driver Thed Bjork will continue his Lola link and partner fellow Swede Niklas Loven in the yellow Sandvik sponsored car. Fresh from finishing a creditable 8th at Monza last weekend, Bjork is looking forward to getting back in to the B2K/40. "I had a good finish at the Spa F3000 race three weeks ago," said the 22 year old, "so I would like to help Niklas and the team score their first win of the year and with the Lola's excellent handling I think Spa could see this achieved."
Another Lucchini that is also likely to challenge at the front is the GP Racing entry for Massimo Saccomanno and an as yet un-named team mate. The Italian scored an unlikely win at Magny Cours in round four at the end of July, in what was the teams very first sportscar race. The team that also runs a European F3000 outfit will be out to repeat that feat on a circuit that has been kind to Saccomanno in the past.
The small but always threatening SCI team of Raniere Randaccio and Leonardo Maddalena could also pose a threat and will be yearning to forget the disappointment of the last race at Dijon when a mechanical failure robbed them of third place within sight of the chequered flag.
It won't just be Team Jota who will be upholding British honour at Spa next weekend as both Team Sovereign and the new JCI Developments operation are more than capable of mounting a serious challenge. Ian Flux will return to partner Mike Millard in the new look 'Silver Arrow' Rapier 6 Nissan after missing the last round. 'Fluxie' is always a threat at Spa and should the elements do their worst in the notoriously fickle Ardennes climate then look no further than the ultra experienced British racer to set the pace.
JCI make their second appearance of the year with their unique Opel engined Tampolli chassis. After tests at Silverstone and Donington since their last appearance at Magny Cours, the team are more confident of a stronger result coming in to the Spa weekend. Michael Mallock will be partnered by Rob Croydon this weekend and the former GT racer, who made his FIA Sportscar Championship debut at Dijon for the PiR Competition team, is raring to go on a circuit he knows well from his Radical and Lotus Elise days. " First impressions are very good," commented Croydon," the car is well presented and I am impressed with the team as a whole. Their approach is methodical and professional, and I am pleased to be working with the experienced Team Chief John Christie, who has run many successful Group C and IMSA projects over the years."
After two consecutive podium positions, Pierre Bruneau's PiR Competition outfit are looking to bag more points at Spa after a successful test at Dijon last week. Both the teams regular drivers Marc Rostan and Bruneau himself drove the car in a full days test of the Pilbeam's Sodemo Peugeot engine. " We got a lot of miles on the engine and set some very encouraging times," said Pierre. "We are confident of another strong performance and more points in Belgium."
PiR will once again have a two pronged attack as Paul Daniels and Ludovico Manfredi will race the Debora that finished a creditable sixth in class at Dijon a month ago. Didier Bonnet's Debora Automobiles concern will continue to enter their turquoise Debora for Gilles Duqueine, French newcomer Xavier Bich and Bonnet himself, who makes a welcome return to the cockpit for the first time in three years.
The weekend comes early at Spa next week as an action packed Media Day kicks off the 2002 Racing Festival on Thursday 19th September with passenger rides (including winners from the BBC's SportRelief initiative) in both SR1 and SR2 cars, lunch, Press Conferences and photo shoots. A full support package will also entertain with the fiercely competitive BELCAR and Toyota Yaris Trophy among others set to 'wow' the crowds. Qualifying for the 6th round of the FIA Sportscar Championship takes place on Saturday afternoon and the two and a half-hour race starts at 14.00 on Sunday afternoon.
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