Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is hosting the Clio Cup Series season finale for the third consecutive year. Following the conclusion of Clio Cup Mid-Europe at Zandvoort and Clio Cup Italia at Imola, the competitors in Clio Cup Europe, Clio Cup España and Clio Cup France now meet at the home of the Spanish Grand Prix for a final confrontation promising to be wide open and spectacular.
Clio Cup Europe: duel at the summit
Clio Cup Series super-winner David Pouget (GPA Racing) arrives in Catalonia with a 41-point lead in Clio Cup Europe. Clio Cup Mid-Europe title-winner Gabriele Torelli (Rangoni Corse) is the only driver who can deny him the crown, but the Frenchman will look to score ten more points than his Italian rival to seal the deal on Saturday. The eventual winner will follow in the footsteps of Nicolas Milan and Anthony Jurado, who will battle for third place in the final general classification while celebrating the victory of Milan Compétition in the teams’ standings. Meanwhile, Tomas Pekar (Carpek Racing) and Cristian Ricciarini (Essecorse) hope to end their campaign on a high.
Adrian Schimpf (AST Competition) will celebrate his Challengers Cup title in front of his home crowd whilst twin brother Alejandro Schimpf (AST Competition) will fight it out with Jacopo Giuseppe Cimenes (Essecorse) and Guillaume Maio (GM Sport) for the remaining podium steps in the category. The class will also see Frenchmen Julien Baziret (Baziret Sport) and Pierre Bredeaux (Comte Racing Team) chase further wins whilst Italians Damiano Puccetti (Rangoni Corse) and Ludovico Longoni (MC Motortecnica) will be gunning for their maiden victory.
Finally, there are four contenders for the Racers Cup crown. Recently crowned overall and amongst the Racers in Clio Cup Italia, Luca Franca (MC Motortecnica) will target a third title despite competition from Rene Steenmetz (AST Competition), who took top honours in the same class in Clio Cup Mid-Europe. They will have to keep an eye on Stephan Polderman (AST Competition) and Lionel Viguier (T2CM), determined to surprise their rivals in this final meeting. For Quinto Stefana (Milan Compétition), Benjamin Cauvas (GPA Racing) and Michel Faye (GM Sport), who are no longer in the running for the title, the goal will be to make their mark and impress one last time in the 2023 season.
Three drivers for two titles in Clio Cup España
Clio Cup España will also reach its conclusion in Barcelona, with a three-way battle for the main crown. Alejandro Schimpf has scored more points over the season, but with the two worst results dropped before the final round, Adrian Schimpf has a 30-point advantage over his twin. The siblings will however have to be wary of Jérémy Bordagaray (Milan Compétition), still in contention after winning the Racers Cup at the previous meeting at the Circuit Paul Ricard.
The Schimpf brothers will also battle in the Challengers Cup, where Adrian – who won the same category in Clio Cup Europe – goes into the weekend with a 21-point lead over Alejandro. Behind them, Lydia Sempere (AST Competition) and Jordi Palomeras (Milan Compétition) will face off for third place in the category. Meanwhile, Jérémy Bordagaray will target further success in the Racers Cup, whilst Alejandro Romero (Team VRT), Joaquin Rodrigo (Team VRT), Jean-Louis Carponcin (Teamalcar) and Michel Faye will hope to end their campaign in style.
2017 and 2022 Clio Cup España title-winner Alex Royo (Team VRT) will complete the Spanish contingent. The defending champion will make his second appearance of 2023, willing to excel against his future successor.
Another Pouget-Milan duel in Clio Cup France
Both among the Clio Cup’s all-time greats, David Pouget and Nicolas Milan will once more battle for the Clio Cup France title. David Pouget is just four points clear of his rival ahead of this last showdown. With the Clio Cup Europe also in sight, the Albi native can add two crowns to his tally this weekend, but his rival will pull out all the stops to claim a fourth consecutive French title.
Third place in Clio Cup France will be the target of several drivers. Currently third, Alexandre Albouy (GPA Racing) will be challenged by Alexandre Finkelstein (GPA Racing), who heads the chase pack and will look to claim the Challengers Cup despite pressure from Florian Venturi (GM Sport) and his teammate Florian Coruble (GM Sport). Experienced David Pajot (Vic’Team) and newcomer Calvin Comte (Comte Racing Team) complete the class field in their season debut and will be ineligible to score points.
Already crowned in the Racers Cup, Jérémy Bordagaray can also finish third overall and will do everything to reach it whilst his category rivals, Lionel Viguier (T2CM), Fabien Julia (LR Performance) and Samuel Chaligne (T2CM), will compete for the final places of honour. Also in the running are Veenesh Shunker (T2CM), Cédric Delcroix (GPA Racing), Horn (GPA Racing) and Gaël Rostant (GPA Racing), all trying to cap off the year in style with a first success of their own.
The 40-car field will take to the track on Friday for the collective tests ahead Round 13 of the 2023 calendar. The last two races of the season, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, will be streamed live on the Renault Clio Series Facebook page and Renault Clio Series YouTube channel.
