Super Sandmann snatches Race 2 podium | Ferrari Challenge Europe Le Castellet Coppa Shell
There was no stopping Jan Sandmann today, but despite crossing the line first, he didn't manage to win at Le Castellet.
LE CASTELLET, France — Wow, what a race! Although there were more penalties than Race 1, Race 2 at Le Castellet in the Ferrari Challenge Europe Coppa Shell classes had much more action. In the end, it was Eric Cheung who took the overall win, with Fons Scheltema in 2nd, and Jan Sandmann in 3rd. In the Coppa Shell AM class, Lukas Azzato took 1st-place, beating Andreas Konig who came 2nd, with the final spot on the podium going to Henrik Kamstrup. However, this race wasn’t as simple as the results make it look, with Sandmann’s late charge putting everyone on notice!
Ferrari Challenge Europe Le Castellet Coppa Shell Race 2 Results
- 1st: Eric Cheung (Coppa Shell)
- 2nd: Fons Scheltema (Coppa Shell)
- 3rd: Jan Sandmann (Coppa Shell)
- 4th: Sven Schomer (Coppa Shell)
- 5th: Lukas Azzato (Coppa Shell AM)
- 6th: Andreas Konig (Coppa Shell AM)
- 7th: Ken Seto (Coppa Shell)
- 8th: Henrik Kamstrup (Coppa Shell AM)
- 9th: Charles Chan (Coppa Shell AM)
- 10th: Friedrich Muller (Coppa Shell AM)
- 11th: Boris Gideon (Coppa Shell AM)
- 12th: Alexandre Lima (Coppa Shell)
- 13th: Shintaro Akatsu (Coppa Shell AM)
- 14th: Pino Frascaro (Coppa Shell AM)
- 15th: Ivan David Mari (Coppa Shell AM)
- 16th: Stephen Earle (Coppa Shell AM)
- 17th: Jean Ryu (Coppa Shell AM)
- 18th: Lisa Clark (Coppa Shell)
- 19th: Paolo Scudieri (Coppa Shell AM)
- 20th: Aleksei Komarov (Coppa Shell AM)
- 21st: Alvaro Ramos (Coppa Shell AM)
- 22nd: Leon Rijnbeek (Coppa Shell)
- 23rd: Masura Yoneda (Coppa Shell AM)
- 24th: Tibor Valint (Coppa Shell)
- 25th: Alois Meir (Coppa Shell AM)
As It Happened: Le Castellet Coppa Shell Race 2
Tibor Valint crashed in the formation lap with Coppa Shell AM driver Alois Meir, meaning Fons Scheltema led the field after the first lap. Jan Sandmann was stuck behind Lukas Azzato after about 10 minutes of racing, but Azzato wasn't interested in fighting a driver from a higher class, releasing Sandmann who set his sights on Cheung in the final podium position. However, shortly after passing Azzato, Sandmann was handed a 10-second penalty for causing a collision with Boris Gideon - rendering his podium charge useless. Although with 17 minutes to go, Cheung was flying. The Canadian driver was all over the back of Sven Schomer in 2nd-place, and it was clear that Cheung was faster at this point of the race. After 18 minutes of racing, Schomer lost two positions at the final turn, with both Sandmann and Cheung dive-bombing him off the track. However, despite Schomer losing out in that exchange, it did set up a four-way fight for the lead with Scheltema, Cheung, Sandmann, and Schomer all within a second of each other with 9 minutes to the checkered flag. The shoulders were out again between Sandmann and Cheung, with minor contact in the last bend. However, this allowed Scheltema precious time to run away at the front of the field. Also, Sandmann still had a 10+ second penalty, meaning Cheung was losing ground for no real reason. However, with less than 2 minutes left, Cheung finally got past Scheltema, gaining 2nd-place very late in the race with another final turn move on the Dutch driver. Incredibly, with 1 lap to go, Sandmann had over six seconds between him and Cheung in 2nd-place. Meaning if he could find around 4 seconds in one lap, he'd win the race despite a 10-second penalty or at least get a podium! And as they crossed the line, Chung did enough to win the race, with Scheltema 2nd, and an incredible Sandmann in 3rd.
As It Happened: Le Castellet Coppa Shell AM Race 2
Boris Gideon charged to the front of the Coppa Shell AM field, but quickly fell down the order after getting involved in some trouble early in the race. Andreas Konig was hunting Lukas Azzato for the lead after five minutes of running. Jean Ryu was handed a hefty 10-second penalty for causing a collision when he was running 18th, practically ending his race. Charles Chan climbed nine positions within 15 minutes, sitting 9th overall and hunting down the final podium position in the Coppa Shell class, with Henrik Kamstrup less than a second away. With a little over 5 minutes to go, Azzato was over 2 seconds clear of Konig, who had nobody chasing him either. The only Coppa Shell AM battle was for third between Kamstrup and Chan. However, Kamstrup drove very consistently and held onto the final position on the podium, with Konig and Azzato never in danger. An honourable mention to Boris Gideon with a strong recovery drive, getting 11th overall after finding trouble early in the race!
Driver of the Race: Jan Sandmann
Take a bow, Jan Sandmann! I know he didn’t win the race, but with a 10-second penalty, he came very close. The fact that he still secured a podium is incredible enough, but not only did he cross the line in 1st, he had to overtake the eventual winner to get there. Meaning, without a penalty, he would have easily won Race 2. However, take nothing away from ric Cheung, he did what he needed to do to win. But my Tifosi7 Driver of the Race has to go to the “Super Sandmann” today!
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