Peugeot 207 Spider Cup - revenge for the Spaniards?

Peugeot’s latest single-make championship – the 207 Spider Cup – will serve as the support race for the five European rounds of the 2007 Le Mans Series, as well as for two other major meetings in France.

The season’s curtain-raiser at Monza saw French drivers monopolising the two podiums, but Spain's Sanchez and Espinosa will be out to take revenge as the competition moves on to their home soil in Valencia… It is even more of a possibility as the series leader Maxime Dubrulle will be away as well.

The 207 Spider Cup forms the backbone of Peugeot Sport’s 2007 promotional calendar which is poised to make a big impact in parallel with the marque’s official programme with the 908 HDi FAP. Indeed, this year’s 207 Spider Cup winner will win the chance to test-drive the 908 at the end of the seven-round series which features two non-LMS fixtures in France, at Pau (WTCC meeting) and Magny-Cours (FFSA Super Série meeting).

The inaugural round at Monza featured a field of 18 drivers from six different countries, namely France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Belgium and Great Britain. In spite of a few teething troubles, the first 207 Spider Cup races were unanimously praised for their close dicing, with thrilling battles for all the top places. The first round saw Frenchman Maxime Dubrulle (JSB Compétition) come out on top after his nail-biting duel with Grégory Guilvert (Lompech Sport) who went on to finish fourth. Guilvert took revenge the following day thanks to some manly moves, while Maxime Dubrulle profited from his two podium finishes to top the provisional standings before the series arrives in Valencia. Retained by the FIA GT race, Maxime will not defend his position.

Other French drivers to see their efforts in Italy rewarded with a top-three finish were Dino Lunardi (RBA Sport), Thomas Accary (JSB) and Benoît Lison (Lompech Sport).

The action at Monza also saw the fairer sex make its mark as French lady Marlène Broggi thwarted a good number of her male rivals to clinch a highly promising 5th place in Sunday’s race.

In Valencia, all eyes will be on the two home-grown stars, Oscar Sanchez and Alvaro Espinosa, both of whom drive for the Drivex team with the backing of Peugeot Spain. The Spanish round will give the team a chance to avenge its varying fortunes in Italy, but both drivers can expect stiff opposition from Julien Schell (Pegasus Racing), Julien Briché (JSB), Marcel Sciabbarrasi and Germany’s Oliver Freymuth, Kati Droste and Jan Erik Slooten who will all be looking for a top result, unless the unfortunate Belgians Maxime Soulet and Stéphane Lemeret (both Boutsen Energy Racing) or Briton Simon Moulton end up stealing the limelight.