Saturday 30 August 2008 - Test & qualifying
The French cup 2008 was held in Gargenville, in Yvelines, in the Parisian West. The club of Gargenville went through a big improvement program on the track, taking into account comments left by the pilots of the previous regional sleeves. The drivers qualified for this national cup found a magnificent grass track (at the beginning) peppered by miscellaneous jumps, double jumps and triple jumps.

During the first day, we were still on holidays, thanks to a fantastic sunny weather. Staying 5 minutes on the driver’s stand became a real physical test though. On Sundays, the rain made its appearance, fortunately during lunch break.

FINALS

As I was driving, its is hard for me to comment the 3 A finals. Antoine and Cyril won each one a final, so it was in the third that Cyril added a victory to his list. He is about to sweep all the season, having already won 5 national rounds on 7, 2 still to come. Antoine Rossetti took second place and Vincent Héligoin managed to keep his qualification place. Olivier de Montfumat made great races but ended at the 4th place. Pascal Caillaud gained 3 places and ended 7th.

Lionel Labbez was the fastest with the X-6. Olivier de Montfumat on his B4 did not succeed in worrying him during qualifying. The very fast Xavier Ansellem catch the 3rd place with his B4. Arnaud Collet, driving a Kyosho Ultima RB5, stand only on the 5th position. Cyrille Hélias with his Academy qualified 10th,  making Julien Parnot’s misfortune.

Finals : a cahotic start allowed Arnaud Collet to lead the race, followed by Olivier de Montfumat and Lionel Labbez. Labbez passed de Montfumat on a mistake and closed the gap with Collet’s RB5. They made 3 laps of very close racing until Lionel's X-6 pushed the back of the RB5 and sent it airborne in the straight. The crowd expressed his dissatisfaction, Lionel Labbez tried to wait for the return of Arnaud Collet before crossing the lane but because Olivier de Montfumat was now second, he finally crossed the finishing line first, winning the first main. Lionel received a severe warning from the race direction.

The second final saw the great attitude of Lionel Labbez which, leading the heat from start to finish, stopped his car 2 meters before the line to allow Arnaud Collet to pass and make up for the first leg. Bravo lionel!

The third final would be decisive between both pilots. Although Arnaud Collet's RB5 was more agile than during qualifying, finally Lionel Labbez won the last final. Olivier de Montfumat did not benefit from his 2nd place and ended 3rd.

Lionel Labbez, pole man, wins the French Cup in 2WD Open. With his X-6, he was untouchable all the weekend and showed a great spririt during the second final. Bravo!

In finals, Valtier won easily the race. Fouad Elward, starting from  the 7th place, finished 2. Beautiful race also for Cyrille Dubois who went back from the 6th to the third position. Ludovic's brother, Alain, won the B-final.