AUTO SPORT ACADEMY

15/03 - Some news

Jean-Eric Vergne, Arthur et Charles Pic... 3 drivers trained with Auto Sport Academy who are now in French FFSA Circuit Team © DPPI

Auto Hebdo tests the Formula Renault 1.6
On March 3rd, do not miss the release of Auto Hebdo! Stephane Enout, journalist and test driver of the magazine, will report his feelings on board the Formula Renault 1.6 (ex Formula Academy) that he came and tested on February 17th on the Bugatti Circuit soaked by the rain.

The academy is present at shows
After the International Autosport show in Birmingham in 2008, Auto Sport Academy chose to be present at the IKA Show (International Kart-Ausstellung), the international show of go-kart in Offenbach in Germany, to present its activities. In this way, many young kart men could (re)discover the Federal Institution and the training it proposes in order to make ones first steps in a single-seater within the world of motorsports.

Also, during the Bilsportgalan (annual evening of the Scandinavian Motorsport Trophies) which was held in Sweden, Auto Sport Academy had an information stand where over 2000 visitors came from Scandinavian countries and who work in motorsports (organizers, press, drivers, etc…)

Our drivers … in short and without exhaustiveness!
Our Champion Benjamin Bailly continues his rising program as he will be evolving this year in F2, the FIA Formula Two Championship, that will essentially take place within the WTCC. During the last tests programmed in December on the circuit of Portimao in Portugal, he made a good impression by signing the 4th best time of the morning. During the afternoon, although his session turned short because of a mechanical problem, he managed to do 3rd time, six tenths from the best time. The kickoff of the F2 season is planned from 16th to 18th April in Silverstone.

William Vermont, who closed the 2009 podium with 3 victories to his credit, has now moved to Germany in order to be closer to the MA-CON Team, 2009 Vice-Champion, for whom he will be bearing the colours within the Formula ADAC Master Championship. The beginning of hostilities will be starting from 9th to 11th April on the track of Oschersleben.

Vincent Beltoise, Thibaut Taquet and Jakub Klasterka were recently invited by Renault Sport Technologies to test the very new Formula Renault 2.0 on the Circuit of Motorland Aragón! Mathieu Arzeno, 2005 Vice-Champion and now evolving in rally, was also of part of the group on behalf of the magazine Echappement by whom he was elected the 2009 promising young driver.

Among the five drivers who compose the 2010 French FFSA Circuit Team, three come from Auto Sport Academy. Titled in 2007, Jean-Eric Vergne will evolve this year in British F3. The driver of the Red Bull Junior TEAM will join the Carlin Team, who won the last two editions of British F3 with Alguersuari and Ricciardo . Like one says: "Everything comes in threes!" 3rd of the Renault Formula 3.5 Series, Charles Pic (3rd in 2006) has decided to change his program and has joined the GP2 Series with the Arden International Team and he has well begun his 2010 season by winning pole position and best lap in the first of the two races competed on the Abu Dhabi Circuit in GP2 Asia, winter and Asian version of the Championship which is competed in Europe. His brother
Arthur, titled in 2008, has made a good start in the Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup. He will be doing a second season with the ambition to become the first Frenchman to impose himself in this discipline!

Among the drivers of Gravity Sport Management whose aim is to identify, support and promote young drivers thanks to the support of private investors, we can find Jim Pla (6th in 2007) who will be evolving in the F3 Euro Series with ART Grand Prix this season and the Spaniard Javier Tarancon (5th in 2008) who will be reiterating this season within Formula BMW Europe with DAMS.

Following the example of Alexandre Prémat, 2000 Vice-Champion, Benoit Tréluyer (photo opposite), trainee driver in 1995, has joined Audi. He will be one of the official drivers for the 24 Hour Le Mans Race in 2010 and will be co-driving with the Swiss Marcel Fässler, also trained at Auto Sport Academy in 1995!

Peugeot Sport has recently announced the composition of its teams for the 24 Hour Le Mans Race in 2010. Franck Montagny (champion in 1994) and Stéphane Sarrazin (FR-1994) will be both together onboard the 2nd 908 HDi-FAP whereas Sébastien Bourdais (trained in 1995), with whom he was in the same team in 2009, will be in the 3rd car by the side of Simon Pagenaud, 2001 Vice-Champion. Back-up driver in 2009 for Peugeot, the latter has already participated in two races onboard the 908 : in Spa within the LMS, with one victory, and with Pescarolo during the 24 Hour Le Mans Race (withdrawal).

On the list of competitors for the 24 Hour Le Mans Race in 2010, you can number no less than 12 drivers trained with Auto Sport Academy! To those previously mentioned, we must add Pierre Ragues (2003 Vice-Champion, Nicolas Prost (2003), Olivier Pla (3rd in 2000), Arno Santamato (2008), the Spaniard Antonio Garcia (1997) and the Russian Roman Rusinov (1999).