Winner of the 2022 Clio Cup Italia and 2023 Clio Cup Mid-Europe, Italy’s Gabriele Torelli has etched his name in the discipline’s history by adding the Clio Cup Series and Clio Cup France to his trophy cabinet. While Anthony Jurado (Rangoni Corse) and David Pouget (GPA Racing) won the races at Circuit Paul Ricard, the Italian now has an insurmountable lead ahead of the season’s final round.
Among his Rangoni Corse teammates, Lorenzo van Riet won the Clio Cup Mid-Europe and Anthony Jurado claimed the Clio Cup Italia leadership before the season finale at Monza (18-20 October).
Forty-eight drivers were at the former French Formula 1 Grand Prix venue, where the action promised to be particularly lively for round eight on the calendar.
Race 1: Jurado leads another Rangoni Corse one-two
While Anthony Jurado dominated both free practice sessions on Friday, his teammate Gabriele Torelli was the fastest in a hotly-contested qualifying session on Saturday morning. The Clio Cup Series leader started ahead of Alexandre Finkelstein (GPA Racing), David Pouget, Anthony Jurado and Alex Lancellotti (GPA Racing).
Alexandre Finkelstein made the best getaway to take the lead ahead of Anthony Jurado, Gabriele Torelli and Nicolas Milan (Milan Compétition). In the midfield, Ronnie Stefani (Essecorse) rolled on the opening lap and emerged unscathed, but the incident led to a safety car period. When the race resumed, Alexandre Finkelstein maintained his lead, but Anthony Jurado found an opening at the entrance to the chicane. Gabriele Torelli then took advantage of their duel to slot between the two French drivers as the race neared its conclusion.
Anthony Jurado kept his cool to win ahead of Gabriele Torelli and Alexandre Finkelstein. David Pouget snatched fourth place from Nicolas Milan on the run to the chequered flag. Challenger Alex Lancellotti did the same, taking sixth place from Alexandre Albouy (GPA Racing). Aurélien Renet (JSB Compétition), Junior Mauro Polderman (AST Competition) and Guillaume Maio (GM Sport) completed the top ten, whilst Stephan Polderman (AST Competition) won in the Gentlemen’s category.
Race 2: Pouget shines in the rain
Sunday’s qualifying session was run in the rain. David Pouget excelled in tricky conditions, taking pole position by more than a second ahead of Nicolas Milan, Alexandre Finkelstein and Alex Lancellotti.
The drivers opted for slick tyres for the start on a greasy track. After an observation lap behind the safety car, the race went green, with David Pouget keeping the lead. Further back, the tables turned after an incident between Thomas Compain (Milan Compétition) and Jack Byrne (GPA Racing). Eleventh and twelfth on the grid, Anthony Jurado and Gabriele Torelli seized the opportunity to move into the top six.
At the pointy end of the order, David Pouget and Nicolas Milan saw the chase group get larger in their mirrors. Nicolas Milan went on the offensive to take the lead on lap seven. After an initial counterattack marked by slight contact, David Pouget regained the lead on lap nine. Nicolas Milan hit back a lap later as Alexandre Finkelstein, Alex Lancellotti, and Anthony Jurado looked on.
It all came down to a thrilling final lap when David Pouget pulled off his winning move at the entrance to the chicane. The Albi native led a one-two for GPA Racing when Alexandre Finkelstein also surprised Nicolas Milan, who managed to hold on to his podium place against Anthony Jurado on the final straight. Alex Lancellotti was first among the Challengers in fifth place, ahead of Gabriele Torelli, who wrapped up the Clio Cup Series title. Guillaume Maio, Aurélien Renet, Alexandre Albouy and Junior Thomas Compain followed in that order, whilst Stephan Polderman once again dominated the Gentlemen category.
CLIO CUP SERIES
Second on Saturday and fourth on Sunday, Gabriele Torelli secured the title ahead of the season’s final meeting. As the first Italian driver to win the Clio Cup Series, the Rangoni Corse team leader is ahead of his three predecessors on the European scene. They will battle for second place at Monza, where Nicolas Milan will arrive 16 points clear of Anthony Jurado and David Pouget, both winners this weekend.
Three crowns are still up for grabs. Following Mauro Polderman and Damiano Puccetti’s victories in the Junior category, the title will be decided between Damiano Puccetti and Leonardo Arduini (MC Motortecnica), who are level on points. Guillaume Maio made it a double win in the Challenger class to take the lead from Lorenzo van Riet by three points, whilst Stephan Polderman kept the suspense going with two victories amongst the Gentlemen to stay in contact with Mickaël Carrée (T2CM).
CLIO CUP FRANCE
Gabriele Torelli made history by joining Belgium’s Maxime Martin (2008) as the second non-French driver to win the Clio Cup France title. The Italian secured the crown on Saturday with his sixth victory of the season, ahead of Alexandre Finkelstein and David Pouget, who won on Sunday. Meanwhile, Thomas Compain won twice in the Junior category, as did Alexandre Albouy among the Challengers, two categories that crowned Florian Venturi (GM Sport) and Calvin Comte (Comte Racing Team) at Magny-Cours. Already crowned Gentlemen champion, Mickaël Carrée rounded off his campaign with a fourth consecutive pair of class victories.
CLIO CUP ITALIA
Anthony Jurado followed his double victory in Barcelona with another at Circuit Paul Ricard, taking the lead in Clio Cup Italia from Giacomo Trebbi (MC Motortecnica). The Italian also relinquished the lead in the Challenger category to Alex Lancellotti, who was twice runner-up and double winner in this class this weekend. The podiums were completed by Leonardo Arduini, whose two Junior category wins secured him the title, and Stephan Polderman, who is now just two points behind Cristian Ricciarini (Essecorse) in the Gentlemen category before the season finale at Monza.
CLIO CUP MID-EUROPE
Five drivers vied for the Clio Cup Mid-Europe title when they arrived at Circuit Paul Ricard. Despite the victories of his rivals Aurélien Renet and Guillaume Maio, Lorenzo van Riet did all what he needed to take the crown ahead of the two French drivers. A Clio Cup newcomer, the Dutchman was also crowned in the Challenger category against the same rivals. His countryman Mauro Polderman shared the spoils with Thomas Compain in the Juniors, winning the title by a single point at the end of a tense final confrontation.
The Clio Cup Series now heads to the Autodromo Nazionale Monza for the ninth and final round of the 2024 calendar. Held from October 18 to 20, the event will also host the Clio Cup Italia final.
