Niccolo Nalio beats Stefano Comini

All winning streaks come to an end, but it has taken half a season for anybody to beat Stefano Comini (Oregon Team). But having finished second, the Swiss driver was delighted to congratulate his teammate Niccolo Nalio (Oregon Team), the first Italian to win a race in the Eurocup Megane Trophy. The winner of the Gentlemen Drivers category, David Dermont (TDS Racing), finished third to complete the podium following the penalty imposed on Grégory Guilvert at the end of the race.

As one has come to expect this season, Stefano Comini started on pole position (for the seventh time in seven races). The Swiss shared the front row with David Dermont. But Comini stalled on the grid and could only watch as his rivals dodged past him, fortunately without making contact.

David Dermont finished the first lap in the lead ahead of Niccolo Nalio, Bas Schothorst, Fabien Thuner (Boutsen Energy Racing) and Wim Beelen (TDS Racing). While Nalio managed to get the better of his TDS Racing to take the lead, Comini began his fightback through the field. Having slipped back to last place, he was already up to ninth by the end of lap four.

Bas Schothorst overtook teammate David Dermont and began to chase Nalio. In the battle for third place, David Dermont, Fabien Thuner and Grégory Guilvert tangled. Guilvert lost only one place but Thuner fell back to seventh. The Swiss driver had another major incident, this time with his teammate Michele Faccin (Boutsen Energy Racing), spoiling both their races. All these incidents helped Comini move up through the field, and by lap six he was up to sixth.

Shortly after David Dermont had completed a drive-through penalty for causing a collision, Grégory Guilvert was the first to pit. Comini came in a lap later, while the front three of Niccolo Nalio, Bas Schothorst and Wim Beelen waited a few more laps.

Niccolo Nalio was still first after the refuelling stops. But the Italian had to risk everything to build up a lead over Bas Schothorst, as the race director had given him a ten-second penalty for failing to follow the racing line. But Bas Schothorst’s retirement, following a fuel pressure problem, made things much easier for Nalio. With 6 minutes to go, the Italian had a 16-second lead over Comini.

Behind the two Oregon Team drivers, Wim Beelen and Grégory Guilvert were fighting for the last spot on the podium. Wim Beelen was heading for his first podium in the Eurocup Megane Trophy, but he was pressured into a mistake by Grégory Guilvert in the dying seconds of the race. But Guilvert eventually lost his third place when he was given a twenty-five-second penalty for the manoeuvre after the race, thus handing the final spot on the podium David Dermont.

Oregon Team thus completed another one-two, but for the first time this season Comini was not the victor, leaving Nalio to savour his maiden Eurocup Megane Trophy victory. His joy was shared by all his team.

Drivers’ comments:

Niccolo Nalio: “I am delighted today to be the first Italian to win in the Eurocup Megane Trophy. The start of the race was hotly contested between me, Dermont and Schothorst. This is an important win for me. Now I will do everything I can to close the gap on Stefano Comini.”

Stefano Comini: “I’m happy for Niccolo Nalio and happy to finish second because it was a bit of a crazy race, as I was last in the first lap after stalling on the grid. I overtook many rivals. It’s a great result for the team and the points are important for me in the championship.”